Senator Win Gatchalian and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio oversaw the second phase of the vaccination rollout for thousands of essential workers and economic frontliners in the city on Friday.
Over 25,000 Davaoeños are expected to be vaccinated by the end of phase two of the ongoing “Bakuna by the Sea” vaccination site inspection, a joint undertaking of the local government of Davao and the Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao owned and operated by the Gatchalian family.
The project is part of the company’s corporate social responsibility.
An initial 14,000 individuals belonging to the tourism industry and allied services were vaccinated in the first phase of the program last August.
The high turnout of those who sought to be vaccinated prompted Gatchalian and Duterte-Carpio to hold another round of vaccination to expedite the government’s inoculation program ahead of the gradual resumption of economic activities in Davao once the number of COVID-19 cases starts to slow down.
Gatchalian has been pushing for the acceleration of the gradual and safe reopening of the economy. In expediting the vaccination program, the senator said the government would be able to recoup lost jobs and revenues, especially if quarantine restrictions will further ease up.
He earlier called on economic managers to devise means to help the upskilling and reskilling of workers on new technologies.
“If we want to go back to business and have at least a semblance of normalcy in our daily lives, we need to vaccinate the people. If we want to achieve the population protection target by the end of the year, we need to do our share to help the government hasten the process. Bayanihan is the key. We cannot just sit idly and watch the cases increase day after day,” Gatchalian said.
The senator also said that aside from offering Waterfront Hotels as vaccination facilities, the Gatchalian family shouldered the salaries and professional fees of doctors, nurses, and other staff working in the frontlines who were hired to augment the vital screening, vaccination, and monitoring process.
