Para ‘di maabala! Gov’t urged: Rush issuance of yellow vax passports to OFWs

By Billy Begas

Assistant Majority Leader and ACT-CIS Rep. Niña Taduran on Thursday urged the government to speed up the issuance of yellow vaccination passport for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

At the same time, Taduran also appealed to the national government to help OFWs from the provinces who are currently stranded in Metro Manila after the Hong Kong authorities refused to honor the vaccination cards issued by local government units.

“The Philippine government, through our Consulate in Hong Kong, should discuss thoroughly with the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region the issue concerning the vaccination card of our OFWs,” Taduran said.

Taduran said it should also be clarified if the Hong Kong authorities will accept the international certificate of vaccination issued by the Bureau of Quarantine as proof of vaccination.

“It is very unfortunate that the OFWs are having difficulty in returning to their jobs and spending too much money while waiting for their chance to fly and be admitted in Hong Kong,” Taduran added. “While they are waiting, the government should offer help in sustaining the daily needs of the OFWs especially those who came from the provinces.”

The Hong Kong authorities have lifted the travel ban on the Philippines allowing more than 3,000 stranded Filipino workers to fly back to their employers.

Gov’t asked to help promote vax awareness

 Ryan Ponce Pacpaco 

 HOUSE Assistant Majority Leader and ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Niña Taduran on Sunday called on all concerned government officials to help out in vastly promoting awareness and a more organized vaccination procedure.

Taduran said remarks about alleged vaccine hesitancy will not do us any good.

“I don’t believe there’s a massive vaccine hesitancy in Filipinos. The problem lies in the lack of supply and vaccinators and the vaccination process is mostly disorganized,” Taduran said.

Taduran said the low turnout of senior citizens lining up for their vaccination could be because of disorganization and the lack of proper facilities to administer the vaccines.

“Papipilahin mo sina lolo at lola sa isang mainit na lugar para mabakunahan. Bukod sa init, hirap na yan sa matagal na pagtayo o pag-upo. Bakit hindi ang gawin ng LGU (local government unit) ay magbahay-bahay na sa pagsasaksak ng bakuna sa kanila para hindi na kailangang lumabas? O kaya ay ipatupad ang drive thru vaccination katulad sa Maynila, gamit ang sasakyan ng barangay na susundo sa kanila sa bahay?” Taduran suggested.

She also proposed to LGUs to coordinate with local pharmacies to facilitate the coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) vaccination.

“We need all the help that we can get to fast track the vaccination as the Delta variant spreads in the country. Hindi kasalanan ng mga senior citizens at iba pang priority groups kung bakit hindi pa rin sila nababakunahan hanggang ngayon. Maraming nakapila para sa schedule, wala namang tumatawag sa kanila,” Taduran said.

The World Health Organization (WHO) Philippines’ data provided that only 25% (2.1 million) of senior citizens have been fully vaccinated in the Philippines, leaving 6.4 million elderly still at risk of the disease.

Senior Citizens mahihirapan kaya ayaw pagbakuna

By Billy Begas

Naniniwala ang isang lady lawmaker na maraming senior citizen ang ayaw magpabakuna dahil sa takot na mahirapan sila pagdating sa mga vaccination center.

Ayon kay House Assistant Majority Leader at ACT-CIS Rep. Rowena Niña Taduran, maraming senior citizen ang hindi na kayang tumagal na nakabilad sa araw o mabasa sa ulan bukod pa sa hirap na ang mga ito na tumayo nang matagal.

Para makumbinsi umano ang mga ito, iminungkahi ni Taduran na magbahay-bahay na lamang ang mga lokal na pamahalaan para bakunahan ang mga senior citizen.

Pwede rin umanong gayahin ang ginagawa ng Maynila na drive thru vaccination. Maaari umanong sunduin ang mga senior citizen ng sasakyan ng LGU o barangay para idaan sa drive thru vaccination site.

Gamit ang datos mula sa World Health Organization, sinabi ni Taduran na 25% o 2.1 milyon lamang sa 8.4 milyong senior citizens sa bansa ang fully vaccinated na laban sa COVID-19.

Naniniwala si Taduran na maraming Pilipino ang gustong magpabakuna pero hindi pa rin nababakunahan dahil sa kakulangan ng vaccine.

“Hindi kasalanan ng mga senior citizens at iba pang priority groups kung bakit hindi pa rin sila nababakunahan hanggang ngayon. Maraming nakapila para sa schedule, wala namang tumatawag sa kanila,” dagdag pa ni Taduran.