The government’s vaccination drive in Rizal has been getting a substantial boost when Duterte’s Kitchen Malasakit Program ensured that people lining up to get vaccinated were treated to free bags of “pandesal” bread.

The project, initiated by Cabinet Officer on Covid-19 to Rizal Province and Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi, started distributing pandesal to people belonging to the A1 and A2 category who were waiting to get vaccinated in the centers set up by the Antipolo, Taytay, Cainta, Morong and Tanay local government units.

“Sinisiguro lang natin na ang ating mga mamamayan na nakapila para magpabakuna ay tiyak na may lakas para tumanggap ng bakuna (We just want to make sure that our people queuing to get vaccinated are physically fit to receive vaccines),” Cusi said in a news release on Tuesday.

The Duterte’s Kitchen Malasakit Program has been going around the municipalities of Antipolo, Taytay, Cainta, Morong and Tanay since last May 6 to give out an average of 150 bags of pandesal per area.

Pandesal is a staple breakfast and snack item for Filipinos and is packed with carbohydrates for strength and energy.

Duterte’s Kitchen has been continuously providing meals, pandesal, food packs and various assistance in areas hit by fire, calamities, and to the needy even before the start of the pandemic.

Before going to Rizal, the project has been serving arroz caldo to thousands of street dwellers in the city of Manila.

“The province is truly grateful to Duterte’s Kitchen, and especially to Sec. Alfonso Cusi for making sure Rizal is supported in terms of providing face masks, face shields, food packs, antigen test kits for Rizal. We are truly grateful to Sec. Cusi for being our voice and champion in the Cabinet,” Rizal Governor Rebecca “Nini” Ynares said.

Antipolo Mayor Andrea Ynares, Taytay Mayor Joric Gacula, Tanay Mayor Rex Tanjuatco, Cainta Mayor Keith Nieto, Morong Mayor Olivia De Leon, as well as Vice-Gov Reynaldo San Juan and Pauline Dinozo of the province social welfare and development lauded Cusi’s initiative to help the province vaccination drive.

This initiative supports the national government’s vaccination program, RESBAKUNA, where over 3 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines were administered as of May 18.

The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases has been actively campaigning for citizens to get vaccinated in order to achieve herd immunity and move the country towards full recovery.

“Ginagawa natin ito para sa kapakanan ng nakararami. ‘Wag na po tayong mag atubili, o kaya’y maging mapili (We’ve been doing this for the benefit of everyone. We should not be hesitant and choosy). The most effective vaccine is still the one that is available to you now,” Cusi said. (PNA)