LGUs resort to incentives to attract more vaccinees

CEBU, Philippines —  Businessmen in Talisay City in Cebu are dangling a P20,000 raffle price to entice more residents to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

Cyril Velasco, president of the City of Talisay Chamber of Commerce, said they arrived at the idea when they saw that fewer residents availed of the vaccines in recent days. He said they hope that the initiative will encourage more vaccinees so that the city can achieve herd immunity.

A place needs to vaccinate up to 70 percent of its eligible population to achieve herd immunity.

Only those who are vaccinated starting Sunday, August 18, 2021, are eligible. Those who have received the first dose will get one raffle entry while those who have received two doses will have two raffle entries.

Two winners will get P10,000 each every month.

Aside from the raffle, Velasco said they have coordinated with the police, city advisory council, and Garnet Driving School and agreed on a more aggressive information campaign by visiting interior portions of barangays to convince residents to get vaccinated.

In the town of Consolacion in the north, Mayor Joannes Alegado said they will continue with their “Bida ang Bakunado Online Raffle Papremyo,” which will be on the fourth phase this week.

This time, the LGU will not only give away 25 kilos of rice each to the winners but will also raffle off appliances. Only those vaccinated residents can participate.

The mayor said the project aims to give appreciation, recognition, and gratitude to those who are vaccinated as they are also protecting others, as well.

In Lapu-Lapu Cuty, a drive through vaccination site has been opened at the Liberty Shrine to make it easier for residents, motorists in particular, to get vaccinated. They will just stay in their vehicles as they are vaccinated.

The drive-through also welcomes motorcycle riders in tandem with their partners and public utility jeepney drivers aboard their vehicles.

Bakuna bubble

Meanwhile, in a separate development, Mandaue City will not implement the so-called “Bakuna Bubble” being observed in Cebu City.

The initiative allows only those vaccinated against COVID-19 to enter commercial establishments in an effort to stem transmission of the virus and re-open the economy at the same time.

But Mandaue Mayor Jonas Cortes said there are residents in the city who are not able to get vaccinated not because they don’t want to but because their conditions are preventing them from getting one.

"We should be extra careful kani’ng ato’ng decision. We can find solutions dili kay mao ray ato tugtan kana lang bakunado. Naay mga incentives nga ato’ng mahatag aron ma- encourage atong fellow Mandauehanons nga magpabakuna,” he said.

Councilor Nerissa Soon-Ruis, chairperson of the City Council’s committee on health, said they will have to discuss the ‘Bakuna Bubble’ scheme thoroughly with the executive department.

"Nindot unta but kinahanglan pa namo i-discuss with mayor. Ato respetahan sad ang katungod sa nagpabakuna kay proven na man gyud. Scientifically, nakita man gyud nga ang bakuna maka-prevent sa naka-experience og severe symptoms of the virus,” she said.

Cebu vaccination group

The Cebu Vaccination Group is expected to report its accomplishments in the past week soon, said the Visayas COVID-19 Vaccination Operation Center.

The CVG was created to ensure a well-run and safe vaccination programs in various local government units in province with a main goal of achieving herd immunity for Cebu the fastest possible time.

In a recent meeting organized by the Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas, it was decided that Cebu will be divided into several sectors for more focused vaccination campaign.

There will be six sectors in northern Cebu and seven sectors in southern Cebu.

In the north, Sector 1 is composed of Liloan to Danao City and Camotes Island. The other sectors are Sector 2 (Carmen to Sogod); Sector 3 (Borbon to Bogo); Sector 4 (Medellin, Daanbantayan and Bantayan Island); Sector 5 (San Remegio to Tuburan); and Sector 6 Balamban and Asturias).

In the south, Sector 1 comprise City of Naga to Carcar; Sector 2 (Sibonga to Dalaguete; Sector 3 (Alcoy to Oslob); Sector 4 (Samboan to Malabuyoc); Sector 5 (Alegria to Alcantara); Sector 6 (Ronda to Barili); and Sector 7 Aloguinsan to Toledo City).

VVOC spokesperson, Dr. Mary Jean Loreche, said recently that Cebu may no longer achieve herd immunity by October owing to the fewer number of residents getting vaccinated recently.

Cebu has an eligible population 3.6 million but six months since the vaccination rollout, only 820, 742 have been vaccinated fully. A total of 1,025,912 doses have been administered with the first dose as of September 17, 2021.

“Since supplies are available, and if people will be willing to be vaccinated, and our vaccination sites are set up with efficient vaccination teams, then we might (optimistically) project achieving our herd immunity before Christmas. Crossing our fingers and with much prayers,” Loreche told The Freeman. - Romeo T.  Limpangog and Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon, JMO (FREEMAN)