By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Negros Occidental’s Cadiz City is on the forefront of the COVID-19 vaccination program as the city now reached 83.75 percent of its target population.

In data posted on its official Facebook page, the city reports that 88,331 of its 113,093 target population are now fully vaccinated as of January 13.

The top five barangays in terms of vaccination are Zone 5, Tinampa-an, Tiglawigan, Daga, and Cadiz Viejo.

Cadiz City Mayor Salvador Escalante said the city also averages 200 booster shots per day, and they are currently prioritizing their frontliners and senior citizens.

Escalante cited the cooperation of his constituents to the city’s high vaccination rate.

“I am very happy and proud of the cooperation with our vaccination drive,” he said.

The mayor said they are now requiring all residents to be vaccinated and those who are not are currently barred from entering city hall, while tricycle drivers are unable to renew their tricycle license.

“You cannot also enter commercial establishments like malls if you’re not vaccinated,” he also said.

As to resistance to the moves of the city government, he said that some religious sects are not allowing their members to be vaccinated.

“We are firm on our policy that if you won’t get vaccinated, present a negative RT-PCR test result every 15 days. Those who can’t afford can present a rapid antigen test which is cheaper,” Escalante said.

He said they aim to vaccinate 20,000 more residents to reach herd immunity./DGB, WDJ