AC gov’t ramps up COVID-19 vaccination plans

Posted on February 21, 2021 by Admin

ANGELES CITY - Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin Jr. has ordered the creation of a working committee in anticipation of the procurement and arrival of the COVID-19 vaccines for 411,634 residents here.

Lazatin on February 15, 2021, issued an Executive Order No. 04, Series of 2021, or the “creation of the Angeles City Working Committee on the Adaptation and Implementation of the Philippine National Deployment and Vaccination Plan for COVID-19 Vaccines.”

“The working committee will be in charge of planning and organizing the roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccines in our city. They will oversee everything – from the procurement, to the storage and handling of the vaccines, the transport of the vaccines to 33 barangays, and most important of all, the efficient vaccination of all Angelenos,” Lazatin explained.

On February 18, Lazatin issued Executive Order No. 06, Series of 2021, amending the previous EO and this time ordering the creation of the sub-committees of the said working group, designating specific roles to key City Hall Officials.

The Vaccine Operations Center and Vaccine Deployment sub-committee is headed by City Health Officer Dr. Verona Guevarra, with member Nurse Supervisor Evelinda Mariano.

Rafael Lazatin Memorial Medical Center’s Head, Dr. Froilan Canlas will be in charge of the sub-committee for the Post-Vaccination/Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFI) Center.

The Ways and Means sub-committee is headed by Executive Assistant IV Reina Manuel and City Treasurer, Juliet Quinsaat, with members, City Budget Officer Corazon Ayson, City Finance Officer Genova Dizon, and City Engineer Menadro Dizon. Engr. Dizon will also head the sub-committee for Storage Faciilty and Disposal.

Gender and Development Office Head Mina Cabiles will be in charge of the sub-committee for Survey and Database/Data Banking and Masterlisting, with members City Planning and Development Office head Ami Victoria Dacanay, City Social and Welfare Development Office head Edna Duaso, and Angeles City Tourism Office head Anneleen Sugui.

The sub-committee for Identification and Preparation of the Vaccination Sites will be headed by Angeles City Information Communication and Technology Division head, Michael Lising.

Heading the sub-committee for Digital Survey is Allan Anonuevo, Information Communication Technology consultant.

Angeles City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office Head Rudy Simeon will be in charge of the sub-committee for Monitoring, with members Business Permit and Licensing Division head Evangeline Malonzo.

Mayor’s Office Records Section Head Jermaine Jam Aguila will head the sub-committee for Stocks and Inventory.

The sub-committee for Advocacy, Information, and Community Involvement will be headed by Angeles City Economic Development Investment Promotions Office Head Irish Bonus Llego, and City Information Officer Arnel San Pedro, with members Mayor’s Office Senior Staff Sharmaine Vianne Gonzales, and members of the Barangay Affairs and Public Assistance Center.

On that same day, the working committee held a meeting, presided by Chief Adviser and Tactician IC Calaguas to discuss the immediate establishment of a Vaccination Operation Center and Data Base center in preparation for the vaccinatin roll-out plan of the Angeles City government.

While making preparations for the COVID-19 vaccination, the city government is also in the process of securing a P600-million loan for the procurement of the vaccines.

It can be recalled that in January, the city received a favorable endorsement from the officials of the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), with regard to its P600 million loan.

According to Calaguas, the city has a net borrowing capacity of P2.9 billion, which ensures the city will be able to pay back its loan, without imposing additional taxes to its residents.

“Hindi po dapat mabahala ang mga Angelenos. Maganda po ang financial standing ng siyudad. Kayang-kaya nitong bayaran ang P600 million loan na gagamitin natin sa pagbili ng mga bakuna,” Calaguas explained.

Meanwhile, in order to lead by example, Mayor Lazatin has volunteered together with other City Hall officials, to be vaccinated first.

“Kailangan maiparating natin sa mga kababayan natin ang importansya ng pagbabakuna laban sa COVID-19 . Tungkulin natin bilang mamamayan na protektahan ang ating mga sarili, lalo na ang mga mahal natin sa buhay, para hindi na tuluyang kumalat at makaperwisyo pa ang virus na ito,” Lazatin said.