With the country receiving millions of vaccines in the first part of October, Quezon City First District (QCD1) congressional candidate Arjo Atayde on Wednesday urged QCD1 residents to get vaccinated and pledged to work with community leaders and the QC local government to find ways to make the COVID-19 vaccine more accessible in QCD1.
According to Atayde, vaccines “are the most important, most impactful form of support or ‘ayuda’ the government can give us.”
Atayde, who was endorsed by Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, said that he agreed that efforts should be made to roll out the vaccines faster.
“Ang bakuna ay isang porma ng ayuda na hindi lang makakatulong sa inyong kalusugan, kundi sa kalusugan ng kamaganak at kapitbahay nyo. It protects not just you, but those around you,” said the congressional hopeful, who is fully vaccinated.
“Bukod sa makakaligtas ng buhay, ang pagbabakuna ay isang mabisang paraan upang mabalik ang hanapbuhay ng mga taga-Kyusi.”
Atayde revealed that “I know this firsthand kasi ako mismo, nagka-COVID, at malaking tulong ang bakuna; the doctors said it helped prevent my case from becoming serious, kaya hindi ito lumala.”
Atayde stressed that one of the keys for businesses and livelihoods to resume is vaccination, as evidenced in other countries where large percentages of the population are now vaccinated.
“Naiintindihan natin na may iba tayong kababayan na alangan magpabakuna, at hindi natin sila pipilitin. Pero nakikita naman natin sa ibang bansa kung saan marami nang bakunado, they are already close to being back to normal. People dine in restaurants, nanonood ng concert, pumapasok na sa klase. Kasi alam nila protektado sila ng bakuna,” noted Atayde.
“Para bumalik na sa normal ang ating pamumuhay at kabuhayan, kapag may available na bakuna, dapat aksyon agad, dapat bakuna agad.”
The government reported that it received 14.25 million vaccine doses from October 1 to 9. National Task Force against COVID-19 chief implementer NTF Sec. Carlito Galvez recently reported that there are currently more than 36 million COVID-19 vaccine doses in national warehouses that are scheduled for deployment across the country.
Atayde stressed that one of the keys for businesses and livelihoods to resume is vaccination, as evidenced in other countries where large percentages of the population are now vaccinated.
However, Galvez lamented that the challenge facing the government now is administration and demand, which is why he is urging local government units (LGUs), mayors, governors, military and police to make vaccination efficient.
Atayde, who was endorsed by Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, said that he agreed that efforts should be made to roll out the vaccines faster.
“Sa tingin ko, kung kailangan dalhin natin sa mga tao ang bakuna––if we have to bring the vaccines to our communities in order for more QCD1 residents to get vaccinated––gawin natin, tulungan natin mabakunahan ang mga taga QCD1. With the help of Mayor Joy and yung mga barangay leaders in the area, I am sure we can find a way to encourage everyone to get their jabs and make it easier for them to get their shots.”
