‘Let’s not forget PUV drivers, transport workers’ in vaccine rollout, gov’t urged

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Grace Poe on Monday called on the government to ensure that public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers and other transport sector workers are not forgotten in the country’s vaccination program.

“The euphoria over the first shipment of the COVID-19 vaccines should be matched with a clear sight on a systematic rollout of the inoculation process,” Poe, chair of the Senate public services committee, said in a statement.

“In making available the vaccine to health workers and other priority sectors, let us not forget our PUV drivers and others workers in the transportation sector, who are key to our economic comeback,” she added.

LIST: Priority groups for government’s Covid-19 vaccination program

Poe cited the contribution of workers in the transportation sector amid lockdowns imposed due to the pandemic.

“Over the past months under lockdown, transportation workers have been the lifeline of our communities. They have ferried workers to offices, delivered food to homes and helped keep the continuous flow of goods of businesses,” the senator said.

“Drivers along with the other groups in the priority list—senior citizens, teachers, OFWs, essential staff, frontline workers, indigent population—need the protection against the virus most because of their situation as we embark on the road to the new normal,” she added.

The Philippines kicked off its vaccination program on Monday following the arrival of 600,000 doses of the Covid-19 vaccine developed by China-based Sinovac, which was donated by the Chinese government.

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JE