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PASAY CITY, June 12, 2021 – To signal the start of the inoculation for education frontliners, four DepEd TV teacher-broadcasters on Monday received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine during the National Capital Region (NCR) Plus 8 Commitment Ceremony and Symbolic Vaccination for the A4 Priority Group.

DepEd TV teacher-broadcasters Ms. Pamela Amor Villanueva, Mr. Antonio Maaghop, Jr., Ms. Sharlene Grace Martin, and Mr. John David Martin represented the basic education sector in the “VacciNATION: Resbakuna para sa A4” event at the SM Mall of Asia (MOA) Central Atrium.

“Bilang isang guro, ang pagbabakuna ay dapat at tapat. Tapat sa sinumpaang tungkuling masiguro angkaligtasan ng mga mag-aaral. Bilang ikalawangmagulang na ibinibigay ang nararapat na karapatan ng bawat kabataan-edukasyon, kalusugan, impormasyon,” Ms. Villanueva said.

On the other hand, Ms. Martin also shared the importance of vaccines as one of the best solutions to stop the spread of COVID-19. She is optimistic that the vaccine will pave the way for the return of face-to-face classes.

“Sa aking mga kapwa guro, hayaan natin na maginghalimbawa tayo sa pakikiisa sa hakbanging ito upangmapuksa ang virus. Magtiwala tayo na ito na nga angsolusyon na matagal na nating hinihintay,” she added.

Through Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones’s appeal to the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID), vaccination for DepEd’s teaching and non-teaching personnel was upgraded from B1 to A4 priority list.

“With our teacher-broadcasters proudly getting their vaccines, I encourage our teachers and personnel tofollow suit for the protection for their children, families, and community. The participation of the whole family of DepEd will significantly boost our plan to safely reopen our schools”, Secretary Briones shared.  

“We also call for their support in disseminating truthful and relevant information about vaccines to engage the public in making informed decisions to mitigate the public health situation,” she added.

Aside from education frontliners, local government units may also start the vaccination for private sector workers required to be physically present at their designated workplace outside their residences; employees in government agencies and instrumentalities, including government-owned and controlled corporations and local government units; and informal sector workers and self-employed who may be required to work outside their residences, and those working in private households.

“This development is the result of our national government’s aggressive efforts to secure sufficient doses from the different manufacturers. With the start of our mass vaccination, the A4 priority category are workers in both public and private sectors will have an added layer of protection against the disease,” President Rodrigo Roa Duterte said in his message.

The event was also graced by Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, Vaccine Czar Secretary Carlito Galvez, Jr., Testing Czar Secretary Vince Dizon, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos, Jr., DOH Health Promotions Board Director Beverly Ho, and executives from the private sector.

“Kaya naman isang pakiusap lang po sa lahat, magpabakuna tayo nang kumpleto at siguraduhin anglahat ng nakatatanda at may sakit po sa inyong mgabahay, sa inyong mga tahanan at mababakunahan narin, at sama sama tayong mag-Resbakuna tungo sa[pagpalakas at pagpapatatag ng] kalusugan ng sambayanang Pilipino. At [naniniwala] po [tayo na] itoang susi para manumbalik ang normal na buhay sabuhay Pilipino,” Health Secretary Duque emphasized.

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