CAMIGUIN (PIA)–Ensuring full vaccination of tourism workers in the province, the Department of Tourism (DOT) through Sec. Bernadette Puyat led the delivery of 4,000 Sinovac COVID-19 vaccines to Camiguin, October 18.
“Masaya ako na nandito tayo para sa bakuna. All over the Philippines, lahat ng tourism workers gustong magpabakuna. Bakit? ‘Yun lang ang magiging paraan para makapagbukas at ‘yun rin ang magiging paraan para protektado kayo,” Puyat said.
(I am happy that you are all here for the vaccination. All over the Philippines, all of the tourism workers wanted to be vaccinated. Why? Because this is the only way that we can open our tourism and it ensures protection for all)
As of October 14, 2021, there are 3,071 vaccinated tourism workers in Camiguin out of the initial 4,614 target number of tourism workers.
There are 53 tourism enterprises/groups in the province and Camiguin has recorded 66.56% vaccination rate among their tourism workers, and only 33.44% are unvaccinated.
Per Camiguin Tourism Office, enterprises are unable to achieve 100% because the workers are still waiting for their schedule of the vaccination.
Even with the said number of unvaccinated workers, Puyat said, “I’m so happy na 67% ang nareach niyo for tourism workers. Ang bilis! Ang galing. So insakto at mas masaya ako na magbubukas na pala kayo, October 25.”
(I’m happy that you have already reached 67% in the vaccination of tourism workers. It’s so fast! So good. It’s just right and I am happy that you will open, October 25)
For his part, Gov. Jurdin Jesus Romualdo said he has been planning to open Camiguin but due to a surge of cases in adjacent areas with the presence of Delta variant, they postponed such action and planned to reopen until the majority of the locals has been vaccinated.
“Abri na ta (We will really open) ’cause I don’t want to be a burden on the national government nga galisud ta (where we are struggling) and the borrowings just to survive,” Romualdo said, citing instances where Puyat pleaded to open the province.
Further aiding the provincial government, Mambajao Mayor Yñigo Jesus Romualdo said they have been preparing for the reopening of the tourism industry in Mambajao.
“As a major source of income, this would greatly help in equilibrating our finances,” Mayor Romualdo added.
During the event, 11 tourism workers were vaccinated on site for their first dose of Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine. (RTP/PIA-10/Camiguin)
