150 quarantine hotel personnel inoculated vs COVID-19

(INQUIRER PHOTO / RICHARD A. REYES)

MANILA, Philippines — One hundred fifty quarantine hotel workers were vaccinated against COVID-19 as the nation marked Labor Day over the weekend, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said Monday.

The tourism department said the vaccination of the tourism frontliners is part of the preparation for the inoculation of individuals under the A4 priority list, which includes tourism industry workers.

“Tourism has always played a major part in uplifting the economy before the pandemic, and it is only by ensuring the good health and safety of our tourism workers through their inoculation can we be assured that they will be ready once the industry fully restarts,” Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said in a statement.

Further, Puyat said the government’s inclusion of tourism frontliners in the A4 priority list “is a testimony of the government’s firm resolve to ensure that the Philippine tourism industry will continue to survive this pandemic and thrive after it.”

“The Department looks forward to the day when each and every worker with a stake in the future of our industry will be inoculated against this virus so we can carry on with renewed hope, and embark on our road to tourism recovery,” Puyat said.

Thousands of workers were vaccinated over the weekend as part of the “Resbakunahan sa Araw ng Paggawa” event held simultaneously in three main venues: Palacio De Maynila in Roxas Boulevard in Manila; Lakeshore Hub in Taguig; and the Covered Walk in front of the Quezon City Hall.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said the government targeted 5,000 workers during the Labor Day vaccinations. However, Bello said only 3,000 were inoculated due to lack of time.

There were also vaccinations in various sites in the cities of Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela, Marikina, Taguig, Mandaluyong, San Juan, Muntinlupa, Paranaque, Las Pinas, Pasay and the municipality of Pateros.

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