ANGELES CITY – This city is one of the 23 Highly Urbanized Cities in the country to achieve herd immunity, according to Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año.
This was announced during President Rodrigo Duterte’s Talk to the People that aired on Tuesday, Dec. 7.
“Nakamit po natin ito dahil sa mga masisipag nating kawani ng City Government,” Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin, Jr. said, congratulating the Angeles City Vaccination Team for their ramped-up efforts.
To date, 321,977 Angeleños received their first dose of vaccines while 264,824 are already fully vaccinated.
The city government launched the blended scheme vaccination drive of the city – the Ronda Bakuna and the Sundo Bakuna sa Barangay programs – with IC Calaguas, the chief implementer of the city government’s vaccination program.
In fact, Angeles City is the only Local Government Unit with this vaccination strategy, which was also commended by the World Health Organization.
The Ronda Bakuna sa Barangay is the delivery of vaccination service right at the doorsteps of Angeleño families using three mobile bus clinics, while the Sundo Bakuna sa Barangay program picks up Angeleños from barangays and takes them to the city’s two mega vaccination sites with free transportation services provided.
Apart from these strategies, the two mega vaccination sites at the City College of Angeles and Angeles City National High School are operational.
Mayor Lazatin, in his state of the city address last June, said that Angeles City will achieve herd immunity by the end of 2021.
“Ito lang po ang magiging panlaban natin sa virus,” Lazatin said.
Lazatin, however, said the city will not slow down in its efforts to inoculate all residents.
He said this will not be possible if not for the 400 staff working non-stop for the vaccination service.
He continues to commend the members of the vaccination teams including Executive Assistant IV Reina Manuel, Rafael Lazatin Memorial Medical Center led by Dr. Froilan Canlas; City Health Office led by Dr. Verona Guevarra, CHO Nurse Supervisor Evelinda Mariano, Gender and Development Office headed by Mina Cabiles, Angeles City Economic Development Investment and Promotions Officer-in-Charge Irish Bonus-Llego and staff; Business Permit and Licensing Division led by Evangeline Malonzo, Barangay Outreach Program and Angeles City Tourism Auxiliary led by Michael Lising, Mayor’s Office Records Section Head Jermaine Jam Aguila, Angeles City Traffic Development Office headed by Francis Pangilinan, City Nutrition Office led by Donatila Guanzon, Angeles City Tourism Officer-in-Charge Anneleen Antonio-Sugui and staff, Angeles City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office led by Rodolfo Simeon, City Social Welfare and Development Officer Edna Duaso and staff, Quality Management System led by Chrysalene Cunanan, Blood Bank headed by Jennifer Balatbat, City Environment and Natural Resources Office led by Archimedes Lazatin, and City College of Angeles.
