Only 6 Iloilo mayors qualified to be vaccinated vs COVID-19

Only six mayors in the province of Iloilo have been qualified for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination.

The mayors included in the list released by the National COVID-19 Vaccination Operation Center are Francisco Calvo of Calinog, Rema Somo of Santa Barbara, Mark Palabrica of Bingawan, Oscar Garin Sr. of Guimbal, Elvira Alarcon of Batad, and Ma. Lina Holipas of Leon.

“Pursuant to the directives stipulated in the key agreements of the 108th Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases meeting, local chief executives (LCEs) of critical and high-risk provinces, cities and municipalites may be vaccinated as part of Priority Group A1.5, taking into consideration the role of LCEs in the COVID-19 pandemic response and limited vaccine supply,” Advisory No. 26 stated.

LCEs aged 59 years old and younger will receive the COVID-19 vaccine of China’s Sinopharm Biotech. The same brand of vaccine will be given to LCEs with co-morbidities.

Meanwhile, LCEs aged 60 years old and above will be inoculated with the vaccine developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca.

In the whole Western Visayas region, 21 municipal mayors, 1 highly urbanized city mayor, and all 6 governors were selected to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

MacArthur Valdemar of Jamindan and Tito Mayo of Cuartero in Capiz were included in the list.

In Aklan, the qualified mayors were Frolibar Bautista (acting mayor) of Malay and Mayor James Solanoy of Nabas.

Also six mayors Negros Occidental made it to the list. They were Alejandro Mirasol of Binalbagan, Maria Gina Lizares of Sipalay City, Nicholas Yulo of Bago City, Salvador Escalante Jr. of Cadiz City, Neil Lizares of Talisay City, and Victor Gerardo Rojas of Murcia.

Gian Carlo Occeña of Sibalom, Maxfil Policar of Anini-y, Elmer Untaran of San Jose, and Margarito Mission Jr. of San Remigio in Antique were qualified.

In Guimara, only Mayor Annabelle Samaniego of Sibunag, Guimaras was included.

According to the advisory, “if a locality becomes high or critical risk as determined by the DOH, the LCE of the locality shall be qualified for inoculation with COVID-19 vaccines.”

Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas said all LCEs in Western Visayas should be among the top priority in the COVID-19 vaccination program. He was not included in the list.

“Masulat ako letter sa IATF in behalf sang LCEs diri sa region. Marequest kita nga bakunahan tanan,” he said.IMT