“We are in a crisis nobody alive has ever seen before. Hindi na super hero ang kailangan natin. Super friends na ang kailangan natin.”
This according to Quezon City 6th District Councilor Bobby Castelo who, over the weekend, commented about the temporary suspension of acceptance of vaccine applications for Quezon City due to lack of supply.
The Quezon City Government announced that online bookings via mobile app eZConsult as well as assisted applications coursed through the barangays for the first dose of the vaccine will not be accepted at present while waiting for more stocks to arrive from the Department of Health. The announcement, however, assured those who have taken their first dose that their second jab has already been reserved.
“Dapat itulak natin ang mas malawakang partisipasyon ng pribadong sektor para mas marami ang mabakunahan sa mas mabilis na panahon.”
“Nagpapasalamat tayo sa bakuna mula sa gobyerno, pero dapat itulak natin ang mas malawakang partisipasyon ng pribadong sektor para mas marami ang mabakunahan sa mas mabilis na panahon,” said Castelo who is on his third and last term as Councilor.
“Big businesses are willing to rollout free vaccination programs for their respective employees. They should be given incentives like tax-free and hassle-free access to vaccines. Private subdivisions are willing to conduct inoculation programs for their residents. They should be allowed to coordinate with adjacent villages for bulk order of vaccines and, possibly, collaboration and cooperation on the schedule of volunteer medical personnel who will personally handle the injection of the vaccines. There are other large sectors or communities who are only too willing to spend for vaccines and help the government fast track the race to herd immunity,” enumerated Castelo.
As of April 18, 2021, less than 1.5 million Filipinos have been administered the vaccine. The target is to cover at least 70 million people.
“It is time for the national government, the local governments, the private sector, to work together to save each other.”
“We should welcome all the help we can get. We are only as safe as the person beside us is safe. The more people we protect, the greater the protection of the community. The more communities we cover, the safer the entire country will be. It is time for the national government, the local governments, the private sector, to work together to save each other. One for all, all for one,” concluded Castelo.