Regional Development Council 02 Chairman and Gov. Rodito Albano III presided the 120th Joint RDC Full Council and Advisory Committee Meeting on October 21, 2021 at the Provincial Capitol Amphitheater, Alibagu, City of Ilagan, Isabela.
Nueva Vizcaya Gov. Carlos Padilla, together with NEDA Director Dionisio Ledres, together with DPWH Director Loreta Malaluan, DA RED Narciso Edillo, joined in the face to face meeting with Gov. Albano and while Quirino Gov. Dakila Carlo Cua and Cagayan Governor Manuel Mamba other Local Chief Executives, Regional Directors, Private Sector Representatives joined via Zoom.
A representative of Department of Health (DOH) Region 2 presented the vaccination rollout update of COVID-19 in the region. She said that the percentage of fully vaccinated individuals in the region is at 22.53%, based from 70% of population. She stressed that the vaccines are being allocated โbased on the available remaining vaccines of the provinces, as reflected on their jab performance and the capacity of their Health Offices to accept the vaccines, especially taking into consideration their storage facilities.โ
Director Paras of CHED requested for the immediate vaccination of the faculty and non-teaching staff as well as the students from the Higher Educational Institutions (HEI) reasoning out that the CHED is now studying the possibility of expanding or reopening the campuses to all the degree programs in HEIs under Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ) status. โIf the campuses would be reopened for the other degree programs, we are afraid that there will be a community or campus transmission, in case na hindi po vaccinated yung ating mga school personnel and students,โ Director Paras added.
โThe vaccination rollout actually varies in the different areas in the municipalities depending on the availability of supply, but we would like to reiterate that we already directed and advised them to inoculate all the teaching and non-teaching staff within the region,โ the DOH RO2 representative replied.
For the inoculation of college students, based on prioritization framework, they fall under ROAP or Rest of Adult Population, and since we are opening the vaccination under ROAP, they could already be included by the LGUs in the vaccines allotted to them,โ she said.
Gov. Rodito asked why 12 years old up to 18 years old are now given vaccination in Manila. โThis is based on the new guidelines, for the pediatric vaccination we have to brands โ Moderna and Pfizer na puwedeng gamitin para sa 12 to 17 years old but sa Manila pa lamang po ginaganap ito among pediatrics with comorbidities pa lamang po at hospital-based pa lamang po siya. Wala pa pong guidelines on the vaccination in different regions,โ she explained.
Nueva Vizcaya Governor Carlos Padilla supported the proposition of CHED Director Paras and urged the RDC to bring to the attention of the National Inter-Agency Task Force COVID-19 that vaccination should be given to college students, both private and public.
The motion of Gov. Padilla was approved by the Council, hence a Resolution prioritization of the vaccination of college students will be passed to IATF for consideration.
Among other agenda in the RDC meeting was the status of the Cagayan River Basin Dredging Operations in 3 priority sites in Bangag, Lallo, Casicallan Norte, Gattaran; and Dummum, Gattaran, all of Cagayan Province. IDC concerns among different RDC2 committees were also presented for endorsement.(Courtesy:PIO Isabela)
