By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Progressive Alliance of Capitol Employees (PACE), a union of provincial government employees in Negros Occidental, is supporting the mandatory COVID-19 vaccination of employees of the provincial capitol.

In a statement sent to the media, PACE president Renelo Lastierre said, “PACE welcomes vaccination for government workers as a preventive measure to protect the health of the workers.”

“In these worst times, it’s better to be prepared. However, respect for the right to life as a Constitutional mandate must equate with safety of the many. Every person must be responsible for the collective protection with due respect to liberty, freedom from coercion, discrimination and religious belief,” Lastierre pointed out.

He added that, “Measures calculated for the common good must be the essence of  governmental policies without which our very existence will be at stake.”

Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson yesterday morning said he will check if many capitol employees are still unvaccinated.

“We will talk to them and convince them,” the governor said.

“If there is a need to issue an executive order for the employees to mandate a compulsory vaccination, I will issue an EO,” Lacson said./DGB, WDJ