The University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) received an outstanding Higher Education Institution (HEI) award from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) for its contribution to the national Covid-19 vaccination program and deployment plan.
In a report on UPLB's website, CHED Chairperson J. Prospero E. de Vera III said that the HEI awardees have shown the "Bayanihan" spirit through their vaccination efforts for students, personnel, and the community.
Others awardees were Mariano Marcos State University, University of Saint Louis, Centro Escolar University - Malolos, John Paul College, University of Santo Tomas - Legazpi, West Visayas State University, Matias H. Aznar Memorial College of Medicine, Doña Remedios T. Romualdez Medical Foundation, Universidad de Zamboanga, Xavier University, Cor Jesu College, Inc., St. Alexius College, Inc., University of Baguio, Father Saturnino Urios University, and Our Lady of Fatima University - Valenzuela and Pampanga Campus.
"These are the universities who persevered and aggressively pushed for vaccination the shining examples for the whole higher education sector," de Vera added.
UPLB Vice Chancellor for Community Affairs (VCCA) Roberto P. Cereno, Assistant to the VCCA Benevieve D. Villanueva, and University Health Service (UHS) Medical Director Jessie Imelda F. Walde received the trophy and certificate of recognition at the awarding ceremony on July 19 held at the Philippine International Convention Center.
UPLB said in the report that its vaccination program is a part of its Safety, Health, and Intra-community Engagements for Lifesaving Defense or SHIELD.
The UPLB Office of the Chancellor, UHS, UPLB Housing Office, Security and Safety Office, University Planning and Maintenance Office, Office of Public Relations, Information Technology Center, and Department of Human Kinetics were also mobilized to support the efforts.
In 2021, UPLB took the initiative to convert its Edwin Bingham Copeland Gymnasium (Copeland Gym) into a vaccination hub.
"Through the UPLB Vaccination Program, Los Baños was able to inoculate 100% of its target population before the end of 2021, ranking the highest in the province of Laguna," UPLB shared.