June 19, 2021

As the third pillar of the government’s recovery strategy, the timely rollout of the vaccination program will facilitate the gradual re-opening of the economy and the country’s recovery, said the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).

The government is focusing on high-risk and densely populated areas like the National Capital Region (NCR) and nearby provinces, as well as areas in Visayas and Mindanao which are experiencing surges. The inoculation drive will be expanded to the rest of the country as more vaccines become available.

Vaccination of the expanded A4 group, which includes those who work outside their homes and government employees, has begun following the issuance of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases’ Resolution No. 117. Meanwhile, those belonging to the A1, A2, and A3 groups continue to be prioritized for the vaccination program.

Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick T. Chua, together with National Task Force Against COVID-19 Chief Implementer Carlito Galvez, Jr. and Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, showed support to the Taguig City government’s inoculation of employees from the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) and other economic frontliners under the A4 group through its vaccination bus on June 18, 2021.

Chua also received his first dose of the Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine.

“I encourage everyone to get vaccinated. It is really about caring for yourselves and your families and friends. It will allow us to open the economy more and bring back some of the joys that we missed over the past one and a half years,” said Chua.

He added that NEDA’s priority is the total health of the people—whether from COVID-19, non-COVID-19 illnesses, or hunger. He also reiterated NEDA’s three pillar strategy for recovery.

“We have to, number one, open the economy in the safest way possible by managing the risk. Number two, we have a big program on recovery that we need to implement and accelerate. And number three, where every one of you can participate, is to get vaccinated,” Chua said.

The NEDA chief also shared that the 30 million doses of vaccines set to arrive in the next two months can help cover a significant number of the 33 million workers throughout the country in the A4 priority group who have yet to receive their first dose.

“This is what we have to do so that when you go out, go to the office, or commute, you are more protected and you bring to your kids and grandparents also more protection,” Chua said.

Other guests in the event include Taguig City Mayor Lino Cayetano, PSE President & CEO Ramon S. Monzon, and Senator Pia Cayetano.

According to Taguig City, the vaccination of PSE employees is pivotal in the “efforts to accelerate the transition to the new normal and allow a gradual reopening of our economy.”

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