Electric cooperatives (ECs) have offered their sites as mass vaccination areas to help the national government and local government units (LGUs) ensure proper and orderly roll out of the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination plans.
In his privilege speech delivered during Tuesday’s session (February 9, 2021), Assistant Minority Leader and Association of Philippine Electric Cooperatives (APEC) party-list Rep. Sergio Dagooc expressed the readiness of the rural electrification sector to help the government in its COVID-19 vaccine rollout.
“The gymnasium and multi-purpose hall of the 121 ECs across the country can be used as vaccination sites.”
Rep. Dagooc suggested using the gymnasium and multi-purpose hall of the 121 ECs across the country as vaccination sites to ensure the orderly roll out of vaccines against COVID-19. This way, more Filipinos, even those living in far-flung and remote communities, will be reached, the lawmaker said.
“Habang pinaghahandaan ng ating gobyerno ang pag-procure ng bakuna, ang mga electric cooperatives naman po ay handang tumulong sa pag-roll out ng COVID-19 vaccines sa pamamagitan ng pag-aalok na gamitin ang malalaking espasyo sa kanilang compound gaya ng gymnasium o multi-purpose hall bilang vaccination sites para sa ligtas at mabilisang roll-out ng vaccines,” he said.
“The ECs are ready to coordinate with their respective local government units to assist them in their vaccination plans.”
Rep. Dagooc added that the ECs are ready to coordinate with their respective local government units to assist them in their vaccination plans.
“Alam naman po natin na may mga komunidad pa rin na malalayo sa ospital o government centers; at may mga barangay health centers na hindi sapat ang espasyo. Kung kaya minarapat ng mga electric cooperatives na maging bahagi ng solusyon at ialok ang kanilang mga compound para sa mabilisan, maramihan at naayon sa proper physical distancing na pagpapabakuna,” the lawmaker said.
The APEC party-list representative further said that the rural electrification sector is prepared and committed to help the national government in whatever way they can during this pandemic.
It will be recalled that the sector also initiated the ‘Pantawid Liwanag’ program to aid the lifeline member-consumer-owners of the ECs. More than 3 million Filipinos in rural and remote communities benefited from this corporate social responsibility program of the ECs.
Rep. Dagooc is a member of the power bloc at the House of Representatives. Other members are Rep. Presley De Jesus of PHILRECA party-list, Rep. Godofredo Guya of RECOBODA party-list, and Rep. Adriano Ebcas of Ako Padayon Pilipino party-list.