Gov't urged to include construction workers in vaccine priorities

CWS party-list Representative Romeo Momo Sr. is urging the national government to include construction workers in the government's vaccine priority list.

According to Momo, construction workers play an important role in propelling the country's economy in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. He said these workers must also be given protection against the virus.

"Our highly-dedicated and hard working fellow Filipino construction men and women must also be considered as among our frontliners, although admittedly they are not directly combating the spread of the dreaded virus, nor taking care of those who are infected by the disease," Momo said in a statement.

Construction workers, he said, "are in the main front of our efforts in battling the economic devastation brought about by the pandemic, as they served as the backbone of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte's 'BUILD, BUILD, BUILD' program and other infrastructure-related activities."

Now that Metro Manila, Cavite, Bulacan, Laguna and Rizal are placed under enhanced community quarantine, construction workers are considered as essential workers as priority construction projects are allowed under the guidelines of the Department of Public Works and Highways.

At present, medical frontliners are the ones being prioritized in the government's inoculation program. Next on the list are senior citizens and then individuals with comorbidities.

So far, donated vaccines from Sinovac and AstraZeneca are being used in the government's vaccination program.  —Anna Felicia Bajo/KBK, GMA News