Semiconductor giant launches vaccination site to serve Baguio

PUBLIC SERVICE: Semiconductor giant Texas Instruments Philippines Inc., which operates from the Baguio City Economic Zone, has opened its doors to serve as one of the city’s vaccination centers to boost the local government’s pandemic response. (Photo by NEIL CLARK ONGCHANGCO)

BAGUIO CITY, Benguet, Philippines — Semiconductor giant Texas Instruments Philippines Inc. (Tipi) on Wednesday opened a vaccination site for residents of its host community to help speed up the city’s pandemic response.

Tipi first offered free vaccinations to residents of Barangay Loakan in July last year, and had given the jab to about 5,000 employees and their dependents, as well residents of surrounding neighborhoods at the Baguio City Economic Zone, said Alessandra Paguio, Tipi spokesperson, at a press briefing.

The company is now being eyed as one of the city’s biggest site for public vaccination, said Dr. Celia Brillantes, assistant city health services officer.

She said the vaccination area inside the company’s gymnasium could accommodate residents from Loakan and Atok Trail villages.

The launch was held a day before the third national vaccination drive scheduled on Thursday.

Baguio had fully vaccinated 97.48 percent (273,928) of its target 281,000 adults and 32,268 minors belonging to the 12 to 17 age group as of Tuesday.

The city had also vaccinated workers, many of them living in neighboring areas.

Vaccine for tourists

Mayor Benjamin Magalong recently announced that the city could provide vaccines and booster shots for travelers entering the city.

Baguio’s vaccination rollout had improved the Cordillera’s coverage with over a million residents now fully vaccinated, said Dr. Amelita Pangilinan, spokesperson for and assistant director of the Department of Health in the Cordillera, who graced the ceremony.

“We have continuously looked for ways to widen vaccination,” Pangilinan said, adding that they had tapped “ready and capable” medical clinics in workplaces like Tipi to deliver free vaccines to remote communities in the city.

Vaccination is still a key strategy at ending the pandemic and establishing population protection among Tipi workforce and its neighbors is crucial, Pangilinan said.

According to Paguio, there has been a link between infections inside and outside company premises.

“If there was a surge in the community, there was a surge here,” she informed Pangilinan and Brillantes.

At least 400 Tipi employees and contractors have been treated for COVID-19 since the pandemic was declared in 2020.

But the infections were not transmitted at the workplace because many of the infected employees suffered COVID-19 symptoms at home and no longer reported for work, Paguio said.No disruption

Unlike most businesses in the city that were shuttered during the pandemic, Tipi was allowed to continue operating during the Luzon lockdown that began toward the end of March 2020 because it produces chips that were essential for vital medical equipment, Paguio said.

But the company instituted strict health protocols, housed its essential workforce in local hotels who were driven to Tipi for two weeks, and required some employees to work from home, she said.

Tipi also put together an efficient contact tracing system to manage and curb infections, Paguio added.

By the last quarter of 2020, Tipi operations were again at 100-percent capacity. It continues to require all employees and visitors to wear face shields while inside the compound.

At least 97 percent of about 2,000 Tipi employees are fully vaccinated, Paguio said, adding that the remaining 3 percent continue periodic COVID-19 testing when they report for work.

—VINCENT CABREZA

RELATED STORY

COVID-19 cases in Baguio City may have peaked — OCTA Research