Gatchalian tells LGUs: Exercise compassion in COVID-19 vaccination

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian is calling on local executives to exercise compassion, not the "palakasan system" to ensure that health workers, senior citizens, and persons with comorbidities will be prioritized in COVID-19 vaccination.

Gatchalian made the remark amid reports that some government officials, and even a celebrity, were given COVID-19 jabs ahead of those on the priority list.

“Nauunawaan ko ang papel na ginagampanan ng mga lokal na opisyal. Ako man ay may mga kamag-anak na naninilbihan sa local level ngunit sa panahon ng pandemya, mas kailangan natin ang mga healthcare workers,” Gatchalian, himself a former mayor of Valenzuela City, said in a statement.

(I understand the role that local officials play. I myself have relatives who serve [at] the local [level], but in this pandemic, we should prioritize healthcare workers.)

“Sakaling magkasakit o mabawasan ang mga medical frontliners, mapipilayan tayo. Hindi naman pwedeng gumamot ang mga mayors at governors kung nabigyan na sila ng bakuna,” he added.

(If the medical frontliners get sick or are reduced, we will be crippled. In this case, mayors and governors do not have the capacity to treat patients if they receive the vaccine.)

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) earlier issued a show cause order to at least five mayors for skipping the line for COVID-19 vaccination.

These are Mayor Alfred Romualdez of Tacloban City, Leyte, Mayor Dibu Tuan of T’boli, South Cotabato, Mayor Sulpicio Villalobos of Sto. Nino, South Cotabato, Mayor Noel Rosal of Legazpi City, Albay, and Mayor Abraham Ibba of Bataraza, Palawan.

As of Sunday, DILG officer-in-charge Undersecretary Bernardo Florece Jr. said these mayors have yet to respond to the show cause orders.

Gatchalian said the sensitivity of the current situation shows that medical frontliners, senior citizens, and persons with comorbidities should be prioritized in the use of the limited supply of vaccines.

He pointed out that there are almost 1.5 million medical frontliners in the country that need to be vaccinated, but those who have received their first dose stood only at 508,332 as of March 23, 2021.

From the previous classification of B3, local government chiefs like governors, mayors, and barangay captains have been reclassified to A4, including them with frontline personnel in essential sectors like uniformed personnel and those in working sectors identified as essential during an enhanced community quarantine.

“Pagdating naman ng July, pag dumagsa na yung vaccines, kahit mauna na yung mga mayor, governors, at barangay leaders. Palakasan kasi ang nangyayari dito sa atin," he said.

(When the vaccines flood in this July, mayors, governors, and barangay leaders may go first. What's happening here in the country is patronage.)

"Habang kulang pa ang suplay ng bakuna, unahin na muna natin ang medical frontliners," he added.

(While supplies are limited, let's prioritize medical frontliners.) — Erwin Colcol/RSJ, GMA News