The 24th vaccination center in the province of Bataan opens in an upland village.
The measure aims to provide faster and more comfortable inoculation services against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) to people right near their residences and to ensure population protection in the province soon.
Second district Representative Jose Enrique Garcia III said this is the sixth vaccination site in the industrial town, home of the Freeport Area of Bataan, where before the pandemic, they had some 90 locators with more than 40,000 workers.
Mariveles is considered as the epicenter of the COVID–19 and its Delta variant in the province.
The latest report from the Provincial Health Office (PHO) showed there are 15,721 confirmed cases with 34 Delta variant and 2,519 active cases, wherein Mariveles with 933 active infections.
Governor Albert Garcia said there is delayed reporting on the Delta variant as the capability of the Philippine Genome Center is limited, being the only one tasked to do so nationwide.
Garcia said more often the reports came in with the patients recovered.
“We have to assume its presence and strictly follow safety protocols.”
“We have to assume its presence and strictly follow safety protocols inside and outside our houses, the variant being more dangerous,” he added.
Meanwhile the legislator said Bataan was placed under ECQ from Aug. 8 to 22, to curb the rise in COVID-19 cases.
“It would be to our advantage to make use of the two-week ECQ to be more strict in the implementation of safety and health protocols.”
“We’re almost filled and it would be to our advantage to make use of the two-week ECQ to be more strict in the implementation of safety and health protocols,” he said.
President Rodrigo Duterte has approved the release of P700 million for Bataan as cash aid while barangay, municipal and provincial governments are doing their share in extending assistance to residents.
Alion barangay chairman Al Balan thanked government officials and various stakeholders like GN Power, Jetty Oil, Bataan Medical Society, Philippine Red Cross for the opening of the vaccination center.
“Tuwang-tuwa ako dahil hindi ko inaakala na magkakaroon dito sa amin ng vaccination site na malaking tulong hindi lamang sa aming barangay kundi sa mga kalapit na barangay (I am very happy because I never thought that we would have vaccination here which is a big help not only in our barangay and also I nearby villages),” the village head said.
Balan said they will start with 500 vaccines that will be increased as needed.
“Magpabakuna na kayo at huwag kalimutan ang mga safety protocol para hindi tayo tamaan ng COVID-19 lalo na ng Delta variant (Be vaccinated and do not forget the safety protocols so as not to get infected by COVID-19, especially the Delta variant),” he concluded.
