Passi City youth to help in 19 vaccination info drive

By Lilibeth A. French

 

The Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) of Passi City, Iloilo will help in the information dissemination drive on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination to be conducted by the city government to ensure Passinhons get the right information.

This was assured by Brix Jan Palmares, SK Passi City Federated President, in an interview with Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Assistant Secretary JV Arcena over Laging Handa Network Briefing on February 17.

The SK president, just like Mayor Stephen Palmares, also expressed his willingness to receive the vaccine to help allay fears of Passinhons about getting inoculated.

Passi City was placed under Enhanced Community Quarantine on January 28 to February 11 due to a spike in confirmed COVID-19 cases.

But latest information indicated that the number of active COVID-19 cases in the city has stabilized from 305 at the height of the outbreak to 61 cases as of February 17, due mainly to the quarantine measure implemented and cooperation of city residents in observing health protocols.

Palmares said the COVID-19 pandemic has also affected SK members in the city wherein some have lost their jobs.

Among his immediate priorities is to link with concerned government agencies such as the Department of Labor and Employment as well as Technical Education and Skills Development Authority to help improve the employment prospects for affected youth in the city.

Palmares said the youth is among the number one priority sector of the local government as there are programs really laid out for them which the sector also appreciates.

“Nagpapasalamat po kami sa kanila (We thank them) for participating and following the protocols against COVID-19 and we are very happy that they are also making change in the city,” he said.

Amid the circumstances, the SK President said youth members have actively volunteered and participated in COVID-19 response activities initiated by the organization in partnership with other youth and non-governmental organizations since the onset of the outbreak.

Some of these activities are distribution of IEC materials on COVID-19 and improvised face shields and face masks; conduct of information dissemination in the city’s barangays through recorida; and distribution of food packs to frontliners. (PIA)