By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Cadiz City Mayor Salvador Escalante, Jr. yesterday revealed that the city hall has only 12 remaining unvaccinated employees after he issued a memorandum last week mandating all city government employees and consultants to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

According to Escalante, prior to the issuance of the memorandum, they counted at least 60 city government employees who have not yet been vaccinated.

When asked as to the reason why the 12 city government employees refused to get the jab, the mayor said they all produced a medical certificate from their respective personal physicians who have explained they cannot get the COVID-19 vaccine due to their existing health problems.

Because of this, Escalante said he will place all 12 employees on a “work-from-home” arrangement instead if they cannot get the vaccine.

He further revealed that the Cadiz City government employs at least 800 regular workers, while casual and job order employees number at 1,000 individuals.

The mayor added that in processing their contract in January 2022, one of the new requirements they will impose is for them to be fully vaccinated.

Last week, Escalante signed a memorandum ordering all city government employees and consultants to pass their vaccination cards or certificates to their respective department heads or supervisors before November 29 of this year.

He also ordered that starting December 1, all unvaccinated city employees will be required to submit a negative RT-PCR test or rapid antigen test result every week at their own expense.

Any employee who fails to submit their RT-PCR or rapid antigen test result will be marked as absent until he or she is able to submit the requirement, while consultants who fail to submit, meanwhile, will not be able to receive their honoraria.

All officials and employees of national government agencies also operating in Cadiz City are also covered in the mandate and they were told to submit their cards before November 29, otherwise they will not be allowed to enter the premises of the city hall or other local government unit buildings to render their official duties effective December 1.

Cadiz City was later followed by Bago City, wherein Mayor Nicholas Yulo also issued a  memorandum on the same day encouraging all city government officials and employees to get vaccinated against COVID-19 in compliance with the national Inter-Agency Task Force Resolution No. 148-B, Series of 2021 dated November 11, 2021.

City government employees who are not vaccinated starting December 15, 2021 will be required to present a negative RT-PCR test result every 15 days at their own expense./DGB, WDJ