THE only way to get the economy back on track is through an unhampered business activity, which would only be possible if workers are healthy, says the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) as it enjoined the working class to take the COVID-19 jabs once it becomes available for them.
Labor Undersecretary Benjo Benavidez hinted at safe workplaces as key to restore more jobs adding that the only road that would take the country back on its feet is seeing healthy workers.
“Nakita po namin sa kagawaran na although tumataas na ang vaccine confidence ng mga manggagawa, medyo mababa pa rin ito,” Benavidez said during a press conference at the simultaneous symbolic vaccination for workers under the Priority Group A4 in Taguig City.
He, however, clarified that his statement is not meant to dislodge the medical frontliners even as he underscored the need to protect essential workers.
“Naririnig namin mismo ang kanilang mga hinaing. Araw-araw lumalapit sila sa amin kailangan nila makabalik sa trabaho. Ang susi para makabalik sila sa trabaho ay gawing ligtas ang mga pagawaan. Mabakunahan po natin ang mga manggagawa,” Benavidez added.
To prove the labor official’s point, testing czar Vince Dizon, in the same press conference, cited a case of one vaccine recipient — a seafarer – who was restricted to go back to work abroad because COVID-19 vaccination has become a must.
The Philippine government will vaccinate 5,000 minimum wage earners and overseas Filipino workers under priority group A4 in observance of International Workers’ Day.
In the National Capital Region (NCR), the vaccination sites are located at the Palacio de Maynila along Roxas Boulevard in the City of Manila, Lakeshore Hub in Taguig City and Quezon City Covered Walk along Elliptical Road in Diliman, Quezon City.
DOLE has already prepared a master list of vaccine recipients.
Earlier, the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Emerging Infectious Diseases approved the list of sectors included in the Priority Group A4 of the government’s COVID-19 vaccination plan.
Since the vaccine rollout began, the government has yet to complete vaccinating the health workers, senior citizens, and persons with comorbidities, representing Priority Groups A1, A2 and A3 because of supply concerns.