By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga
Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson together with several local officials of the province are set to be vaccinated on Friday at the Teresita Lopez Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City.
Provincial administrator Rayfrando Diaz said aside from Lacson, Manapla Mayor Manuel Escalante, Hinoba-an Mayor Ernesto Estrao, Hinigaran Mayor Jose Nadie Arceo, and board members Samson Mirhan, Araceli Somosa, Victor Javellana, and Sixto Guanzon will also be inoculated.
Diaz said Lacson and the three mayors will be vaccinated with the CoronaVac vaccines by Chinese pharmaceutical Sinovac Biotech, while the provincial board members will be inoculated with British-made AstraZeneca vaccines.
Other mayors in the province have also signified their willingness to be vaccinated, while Candoni Mayor Cicero Borromeo has yet to give his consent for his vaccination plans.
Diaz further revealed that some department heads who are willing for vaccination and will be substitutes are Provincial Veterinary Head Dr. Renante Decena, Provincial Agriculture Office Head Atty. Japhet Masculino, Dr. Narissa Lemoncito of the Philippine Rural Development Project, and Jun Caberoy of the Bids and Awards Committee.
He also said there is now a demand for the vaccines in the province since they have a substantial number of health workers./DGB, WDJ