The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Monday said 12 out of the country’s 17 regions have so far submitted their list of persons who have yet to get vaccinated against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

In a television interview, DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said this data will allow the government to focus its attention on communities and villages that are lagging behind the ongoing Covid-19 vaccination program.

“Karamihan dito nasa lugar na malalayo so ito rin ang magiging strategy natin kung paano mapaaabot ang bakuna rito (Most of the areas in the list are located in far-flung areas so our strategy here will be how to bring the vaccine to them),” he added.

The DILG chief also added that on February 2, he had a meeting with local government units (LGUs) where lagging LGUs were given targets on the number of persons they need to vaccinate.

He added that the government will provide the “appropriate focus” on the areas with low vaccination rates where additional volunteers will be dispatched and more vaccine doses will be delivered.

He also assured the national government’s support, specifically from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, and Bureau of Fire Protection in ensuring the prompt and safe delivery of the vaccines.

Año added that the government will relentlessly pursue a massive information campaign on the importance of being protected against the virus through the Covid-19 jab with the goal of also raising public trust on the vaccine.

3rd nat’l vax drive

Meanwhile, Año said the government targets to vaccinate around 2 million individuals with their first dose and another 4 million with booster shots nationwide during the third ‘Bayanihan, Bakunahan’ edition on February 10 and 11.

Año said under the program, around 1 million primary doses and booster shots are allocated for Metro Manila which is now under Alert Level 2 until February 15.

“Sana nga ay suportahan ng ating mga kababayan ang (We are hoping that our fellow Filipinos will support) ‘National Vaccination Day Part 3’ sa February 10 and 11),” he added.

He also encouraged employers to allow their employees to get some time off work to get vaccinated.

“In fact, dapat nga ay binibigyan pa sila ng incentives (they should be given incentives) and their time off to get vaccinated, hindi ikakaltas sa kanilang leave (it should not be deducted from their leaves),” he added. (PNA)