DILG to LGUs, PNP: Gear up for ‘Bayanihan, Bakunahan 4’

MANILA – With the country gradually transitioning into the new normal, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Thursday urged local government units (LGUs) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to make sure all preparations are in place for the upcoming fourth edition of the ‘Bayanihan, Bakunahan’ which will run from Thursday to Saturday.

DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año said LGUs should use the best practices and improve the lessons from the last three massive vaccination events for better implementation in the next three days of national vaccination.

“Pinulong na natin ang mga governors, ang mga mayors, at ang barangay captains para masiguro natin na maayos at ligtas ang darating na ‘Bayanihan, Bakunahan 4’ para sa mga natitirang mga seniors, mga kabataang 12-17 taong gulang, mga batang 5-11 ang edad, at mga nangangailangan ng booster shots (We have met with governors, mayors and barangay captains to make sure that the Bakunahan 4 for remaining unvaccinated seniors, minors aged 12 to 17, children aged 5 to 11 and those who need booster shots will be orderly and safe),” Año said in a news release.

At the same time, Año directed the PNP to deploy more troops to increase police visibility within and around the Bakunahan 4 sites to ensure a systematic and orderly vaccination of the vaccinees, maintain order in the queues, and ensure the safety of both the vaccine team and the public.

“Kasabay ng pagbaba ng kaso ang mas maluwag na paggalaw ng mga tao at pagtaas ng mga krimen. Mas maigi na nakahanda ang ating mga kapulisan para masiguro natin ang kaligtasan ng mga nagbabakuna at nagpapabakuna (The decline in cases means increased mobility as well as a hike in crime cases. It’s better for our police officers to be on alert to ensure the safety of the vaccinators and the vaccine recipients),” Año said.

The DILG Secretary said that while the first week of implementing Alert Level 1 in the National Capital Region was promising, there is still a need to increase the country’s vaccination coverage to ensure that the majority of the population is protected from severe coronavirus infections.

“We don’t want to go back to square one so while we are opening up our economy again, let us continue our vaccination efforts para hindi na talaga tayo malusutan ng Covid (so that Covid-19 will not get past us),” he said.

“With the steady decline in Covid-19 case turn-out and limited granular lockdowns, LGUs should now use the increase in mobility to prepare for the upcoming vaccination days,” he added.

Año said that granular lockdowns implemented throughout the country are now limited to nine cities/municipalities, 24 barangays; 37 granular lockdown areas; 37 households; and 47 individuals.

According to the National Task Force vs. Covid-19, Bakunahan 4 will mainly target senior citizens, particularly in areas where vaccine coverage is still low. In addition, the government would boost the vaccination for 12 to 17 years old and those who have yet to receive their primary vaccine series.

Vaccination sites will include hospitals, malls, churches, plazas, and other areas to be identified by LGUs.

The first National Vaccination Days (NVDs), also known as Bayanihan Bakunahan, were held from Nov. 29 to Dec. 1, 2021, with 9.9 million people vaccinated.

The NVD’s second phase, which included 7.4 million doses, ran from Dec. 15 to Dec. 23, 2021, and its third phase, which included 3 million doses, ran from February 10 to 18.