NTF eyes vaccination of tourism workers vs. COVID-19 this year

The Philippine government is aiming to vaccinate all five million tourism workers against COVID-19 before the end of the year, the National Task Force Against COVID-19 said over the weekend.

NTF Chief Implementer and Vaccine Czar Carlito Galvez Jr. has approved an allocation of 20,000 doses per week for tourism workers, with more vaccines arriving in the regions.

Weekly allocations will cover hotel and resort employees, as well as workers in restaurants, airports, and those part of the informal economy doing business in tourist destinations.

“When the pandemic struck, the nation’s tourism sector took a major hit. We believe that in order for the industry to get back on its feet and safely open our economy, we need to vaccinate as many members of our workforce as possible,” he said.

Further, the government plans to boost its vaccination program for tourism workers in the regions, especially in Cebu where 50% have already been vaccinated, and 99% are expected to be injected before Christmas.

“By providing our workers here in Cebu with an extra layer of protection against the virus, they will have more confidence to return to their jobs, which in turn, shall encourage tourism operators to increase their operational capacity and result in an economic revival here in the province,” said Galvez.

Out of the 27 million confirmed vaccine doses to be delivered in the country, 20 million have been allocated for the regions — 317,144 doses for the Cebu province; 60,960 for Cebu City; 40,220 for Mandaue City; and 29,310 for Lapu-Lapu City.

Hotel Resort and Restaurant Association of Cebu President Alfred Reyes, who reaffirmed the group’s commitment to assist the government in its vaccination program, welcomed the inoculation plan. 

“Restarting the industry relies on the success of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign, which requires voluntary individual participation to reduce the risk of both host and visitors,” he said.

“Vaccination is one of the key factors that can help revive both domestic and international tourism,” he added.

Estimates by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) pegged the cost of the COVID-19 pandemic and community quarantines at P41.4 trillion over the next four decades. —LBG, GMA News