Barangays prepare inoculation list, venues ahead of vaccination

MANILA, Philippines — Barangays nationwide are preparing inoculation lists and venues for the nationwide vaccination program, according to the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

DILG Undersecretary Martin Diño said the barangays are just waiting for directives from the national government, but are already hands-on in preparing for the national vaccination plan.

He said that barangays hold lists of priority individuals to be vaccinated, including frontliners, barangay workers and senior citizens.

“Now, all barangays, especially in Metro Manila, are ready, including their priority lists for the vaccine,” he said in Filipino in an interview on dzBB.

“I’ve said we’re the only ones that know. The barangay has the list on who are the senior citizens, who are the single parents, and of course, whichever beneficiaries will come first,” Diño added.

He noted that while barangays have no direct participation in vaccination, they are the ones that are doing the preparations for logistics, similar to the social amelioration program (SAP).

“We prepare the covered courts, tables and chairs, and enforce social distancing,” Diño said.

Call for transparency

Vice President Leni Robredo renewed yesterday her call for transparency in the government’s COVID-19 vaccination program, saying it could help increase Filipinos’ confidence in the vaccines.

In particular, the Vice President urged officials in charge of the procurement to disclose the prices of the vaccines that the country will purchase using public funds.

“I think it’s the obligation of the group assigned to tell the people what is really happening,” Robredo said over dzXL.

She said the government must also correct the impression of Filipinos that it is favoring China’s Sinovac, which has the second highest price and the lowest efficacy rate at 50 percent among the vaccines available.

“If these are donated, we are interested to know if these are safe. But if we are getting these through loans or from GAA (General Appropriations Act) or from public funds, we have the right to know the price,” Robredo said.

“I hope they won’t get offended. Because I saw statements that it (COVID-19 vaccine program) is being politicized, which is not the case. It is our health, our lives which are at stake here,” she said.

Tony Leachon, a former special adviser to the National Task Force on COVID-19, said the US purchased the Sinovac vaccine at $5, Indonesia at $17, and the Philippines at $36, citing a report by the Bangkok Post. – Helen Flores