More campuses offered as vaccination centers

MANILA, Philippines — At least 34 colleges and universities in different parts of the country have offered their facilities to be used as additional vaccination centers, according to the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

CHED chairman J. Prospero de Vera III said another 17 higher education institutions (HEIs) were added to the list of those that have reached out to their respective local government units for the possible use of their facilities as vaccination sites.

Among them were Dr. Yanga’s College in Bulacan; University of the Philippines Los Baños in Laguna; Iloilo Science and Technology University, John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University and University of San Agustin in Iloilo; Cebu Institute of Technology – University, and Capiz State University.

Other HEIs that offered their facilities include the Ateneo de Zamboanga University; Northern Bukidnon State College; Gov. Alfonso D. Tan College in Misamis Occidental; General Santos Doctors Medical Foundation Inc. and the Notre Dame of Dadiangas University in General Santos City; Butuan Doctors’ College and Father Saturnino Urios University in Butuan; Davao Oriental State College Science and Technology; University of Southeastern Philippines in Davao City, and the University of Immaculate Conception-Bajada Campus in Davao del Sur.

De Vera said more HEIs have signified their interest to become vaccination sites and help speed up the rollout.

“The commission lauds these additional 17 HEIs for responding to the call for bayanihan by using their facilities as vaccination centers so that more people belonging to the priority groups, including our education frontliners, will be assured of protection,” he said.

“With this initiative from our HEIs, the country will be assured that when A4 and B1 (vaccination priority lists) come in and the bulk of the vaccines arrive, we would have expanded the vaccination centers,” added De Vera.

Last month, CHED signed a cooperation agreement with the Union of the Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) to enable closer cooperation between HEIs and the LGUs in addressing the pandemic.

In a joint statement, De Vera and ULAP president and Quirino Gov. Dakila Cua committed to be strategic partners for resiliency, rehabilitation and national recovery in the fight against COVID-19.

They also vowed to continuously explore mechanisms and modalities of cooperation, including sharing knowledge and resources for the establishment of vaccination sites.