Skip to main content

Ilocos Norte gets priority in vaccine shots says PH testing czar

National Action Plan Against COVID-19 deputy chief implementer Secretary Vicencio Dizon. (PGIN-CMO photo)


By Leilanie G. Adriano (Staff Reporter)

LAOAG CITY—As the province of Ilocos Norte re-strategize to prevent and contain the novel coronavirus infection here, National Action Plan Against COVID-19 deputy chief implementer Secretary Vicencio Dizon assured officials and residents they are on the priority list to avail of the vaccine once it is available in the country.

Mr. Dizon and other members of the National Task Force on Coordinated Operations to Defeat Epidemic (CODE) were in Laoag City on Friday, Dec. 11, 2020 to augment the on-going containment strategies being implemented amid surge of cases of COVID-19 in the province.

In a meeting held at the Laoag City Centennial Arena, Mr. Dizon said getting vaccinated is the surest way to move on from the pandemic.

“Ilocos Norte is one of our priority areas specially for our front-liners. Hopefully, the vaccine will arrive by the end of first quarter next year or the second quarter,” said Mr. Dizon in an interview with local reporters.

In the 2021 provincial budget, the local finance committee assured they have set aside funds for vaccine procurement.

But Mr. Dizon said the national government will shoulder the initial procurement of the vaccine to be made available to all local government units in the country.

Pinapasabi po ni Secretary Carlito Galvez, ang ating chief implementer at vaccine czar, na isa po sa mga priority areas ang Ilocos Norte. Lalong-lalo na ang mga frontliners, medical personnel, kapulisan, mga sundalo, barangay tanod, at lahat na nasa frontline laban sa COVID-19,” Mr. Dizon remarked.

According to him, the “free” vaccine might be available in the country in the first half of 2021.

Nangako po ang presidente na ang vaccine ay libre. Ito po ay babayaran ng national government lalo na para sa frontliners. Hindi mamomroblema sa gastos ang ating mga probinsia at LGUs pero puwede rin namang bumili ang provincial government at ibang LGU in coordination with the national government,” he continued.

At present, the Food and Drug Administration, Department of Science and Technology, and Department of Health, in cooperation with the World Health Organization, are thoroughly screening and validating the vaccines to ensure that it is safe for all

In an earlier announcement, presidential spokesperson Herminio "Harry" Lopez Roque Jr. said the Philippines will procure vaccines from China's Sinovac, Pfizer from US, UK's AstraZeneca, and Sputnik V from Russia's Gamaleya. The Philippines has so far secured at least 2.6 million doses from AstraZeneca while other pre-purchase talks are ongoing.

Regardless of where the vaccines will be coming from, Mr. Dizon assured Ilokanos that these will be safely administered to benefit at least 60 million Filipinos to achieve herd immunity.

Meanwhile, at least 2,000 PPEs, 5,000 facemasks, and 4,000 swabbing kits courtesy of the Department of Health were turned over to Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph Manotoc and Laoag City mayor Michael M. Keon after the meeting.

The Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center also received a high flow cannula machine to be used by severe and critical patients of COVID-19.

As of December 10, 2020, Ilocos Norte has recorded a total of 446 positive cases, 232 of them have recovered with three deaths. (With a report from Blessing Angel V. Agliam)


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Empanada festival: A celebration of good taste and good life

By Dominic B. dela Cruz & Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporters BATAC CITY—If there is one thing Batac is truly proud of, it would be its famous empanada-making business that has nurtured its people over the years. Embracing a century-old culture and culinary tradition, Batac’s empanada claims to be the best and tastiest in the country with its distinctive Ilokano taste courtesy of its local ingredients: fresh grated papaya, mongo, chopped longganisa, and egg. The crispy orange wrapper and is made of rice flour that is deep-fried. The celebration of this city’s famous traditional fast food attracting locals and tourists elsewhere comes with the City Charter Day of Batac every 23 rd  of June. Every year, the City Government of Batac led by Mayor Jeffrey Jubal Nalupta commemorate the city’s charter day celebration to further promote its famous One-Town, One Product, the Batac empanada. Empanada City The Batac empanada festival has already become an annua

PIDS expert says income tax cuts justified; warns gov’t of revenue loss

Proposals to amend the personal income tax schedule appear to be well-justified. However, these proposals should include measures that will allow government to recover the revenue loss from lower income taxes. Dr. Rosario Manasan, senior research fellow of state think-tank Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), said at a seminar sponsored by the Philippine Senate, that government should look for new revenue measures to compensate for the projected revenue loss that will arise as a result of the implementation of any of the various proposals to restructure the personal income tax. Currently, there are several income tax reform proposals pending in both houses of Congress. All of them, according to Dr. Manasan, have the same objective of addressing the phenomenon of bracket creep, which results from “non-indexation to inflation of personal income tax brackets”. Simply put, bracket creep occurs when employees’ income increases over time as a result of inflation. Th

PGIN honors Ilocano heroes of past, present through Heroes Walk

SPO1 Allan Lampitoc Franco of Banna, Ilocos Norte and PO2 Jovalyn D. Lozano of Adams, Ilocos Norte receive a resolution of commendation, a certificate of college scholarship grant to their family members and a P20,000 cash incentive each from the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte represented by Governor Imee R. Marcos and Vice Governor Angelo M. Barba in recognition of their bravery and heroic acts in the Mamasapano clash in Maguindanao on January 25. Mr. Franco and Mr. Lozano were recognized on March 10 in time for the unveiling of the second batch of Ilocano heroes at the Heroes Walk located along the Sirib Mile in Laoag City.  (Lei Adriano) By Jennifer T. Pambid PGIN-CMO In honor of the heroes who brought freedom, fame and glory to the province as well as to the country in the past century, the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN) through the Education Department and Sirib Youth Office launched the second batch of Ilocano Heroes Walk on March 10, 2015.