THE first three barangays in Daanbantayan, Cebu that can vaccinate 70 percent of their eligible population against coronavirus disease (Covid-19) will get thousands worth of projects each.
Daanbantayan Mayor Sun Shimura confirmed this to SunStar Cebu, saying the budget will come from the 20 percent development funds amounting to P8 million, or “Aid to the Barangays” funds that are intended for infrastructure projects. These funds are allocated for the town’s 20 barangays every year.
Shimura said P500,000 worth of projects will be given to the first barangay to vaccinate 70 percent of its eligible population; P300,000 for the second placer; and P200,000 for the third placer.
Shimura said he initiated this program after the Visayas Vaccination Operations Center (VVOC) informed him last week that Daanbantayan was included in the 17 Top Priority Municipality for Covid-19 vaccination in Cebu Province.
Shimura said he immediately conducted a Zoom meeting with barangay captains and members of the vaccination team about the incentivized program last Friday, September 10.
Shimura is hopeful that there will be barangay winners by December in time for the release of the funds.
"Karon lang nako ni gipagawas, kay lisod kaayo magpremyo ta nya walay sufficient vaccine, but now with the meeting with the VVOC nga naa gyud tay allocation, ako nang gi-lay on the table with our program," Shimura said.
The Department of Health (DOH) is expected to allocate more vaccine supplies to Daanbantayan, and with this, Shimura is positive that they will reach the 1,000 target vaccinees per week.
He said they already started the mobile vaccination last September 14, in which three barangays were clustered. He added that 100 doses of vaccines are allocated each barangay every week.
Last September 14, the mobile vaccination was conducted in Barangays Malbago, Calape and Bateria, while on September 15, 200 vaccines were brought to Malapascua Island for the tourism industry workers who belong to the Priority A4 category.
Shimura said 300 doses of Covid-19 vaccines were first administered to senior citizens in Malapascua.
He said that today, September 16, the vaccination is held in Barangays Poblacion, Agujo, Pajo and Malingin. On Friday, September 17, the vaccination is set in Barangays Maya, Tapilon and Logon.
Daanbantayan received 1,100 vaccines last September 13 and the VVOC gave the town five days to consume the doses.
Shimura is eyeing another vaccination center.
He said most of his constituents are not vaccine-hesitant especially the residents in Carnasa and Malapascua islets.
"They are very positive no, everybody is looking for the vaccines. Mao gani to nga gipadaganan gyud nako ang Malapascua and next schedule in Carnasa. There are positive feedback of the vaccine. Naay uban nga sa una kuno gipanghubak sila paghuman sa bakuna, murag wa na kaayo nibisita ang ilang hubak," Shimura said.
"Diri pud sa mainland so far, maayo man kay nahurot man ang vaccines," he added.
Shimura said he does not apply the incentivized vaccination program to senior citizens, since they are not vaccine-hesitant and the Municipal Government gives them P1,000 cash aid and five kilos of rice every year.
He added that Daanbantayan has also intensified its information dissemination campaign about Covid-19 and the vaccine effects.
As of last week, Daanbantayan had administered the Covid-19 vaccine to 11 percent of its eligible population.
As of September 15, the town logged a total of 58 active Covid-19 cases, 483 recoveries, and 34 deaths. The total confirmed cases were 575. (MVE)