I am an Italian living in Cebu nearly for three decades now. I have three beautiful children, two of them are now in legal age, with my beautiful wife, a native of Alcantara.
I am an avid reader of news, be it local, national and international in scope. As a European, I am worried about the tensions brewing at the border of Ukraine and Russia. I hope it will not escalate into a total war.
Aside from reading stories about world affairs, I buy newspapers to read about the local issues, and in Cebu’s political landscape, I am fascinated by the feisty character of Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia.
Recently, the governor slammed the “no vax, no ride” policy implemented in Metro Manila amid surging Covid-19 cases in the area, saying it is “anti-poor.”
Memo
Governor Garcia also issued a memorandum reminding all mayors of 44 municipalities and six component cities under Cebu Province not to make the vaccination card a requirement for employment, education and other government transactions.
The move is in line with Republic Act 11525 or the Covid-19 Vaccination Law, which prohibits the same.
But, as I see it, in my own humble opinion, the governor’s move could be seen as a way of discouraging the unvaxxed population in Cebu Province.
I remember last year that Governor Garcia announced that she would get vaccinated when her preferred brand arrives. She has some kind of allergies, she said.
Now, may I ask the governor if she is already vaccinated? Her constituents, that include my wife who is a voter in the province, have the right to know about her vaccination status because Covid-19 is a public health issue. Not encouraging the vulnerable population, especially those who belong to the poor sector of Cebu Province, is also an “anti-poor” act.