Over 2,000 students get jabs in Laguna ahead of planned resumption of face-to-face classes

CABUYAO, Laguna–Over 2,000 students received the Covid-19 vaccine in a local university here as education officials prepare for the resumption of face-to-face classes.

“This massive student vaccination program is one of the big steps we are undertaking in preparation for the safe return of our students to school,” said Commission on Higher Education Chairman Prospero de Vera III during the “VACC to School, Back to PNC” event at the Pamantasan ng Cabuyao (PNC) on Wednesday.

“According to the Department of Health, Cabuyao is number one in vaccination in the whole province of Laguna,” said Cabuyao City Mayor Rommel A. Gecolea.

“We take pride that Pamantasan ng Cabuyao was chosen as the launching venue for this important student vaccination program of CHEd,” said Gecolea.

PNC is the largest local university in Calabarzon  in terms of student population.

Dr. Albert Madrigal, the university president, said, “The sooner our students can get back to school, safely, the better. This is the best way to mitigate learning loss among our students.”

In the same event, the university’s “Bike to School, Back to School” was launched. Bicycles were raffled off to vaccinated students.

“When our students will finally come back to school safely, we will encourage them to use bicycles. This is not only safer and cheaper, but also healthier and a lot friendlier to our environment,”  Madrigal explained.

The event was participated virtually by Senator Bong Go, Sec. Francisco Duque III, Sec. Harry Roque, and Sec. Carlito Galvez, Jr., who all gave virtual messages in support of the program.