Department of Tourism (DOT) assistant secretary Woodrow C. Maquiling Jr. announced at the ceremonial vaccination of tourism workers the good news that 50,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been allocated for Dumaguete City, through a joint effort by the local government unit and the DOT to restart the tourism industry in the region.
Representing DOT secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, Maquiling joined a very grateful Dumaguete City Mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo in the inoculation of eligible individuals representing tourism, culture and allied industries of Dumaguete held at Robinsons Place.
The assistant secretary acknowledged this vaccine allocation was only made possible through the tourism chief, “whose decisive leadership made the impossible, possible,” he was quoted as saying, referring as well to the strong partnership of the DOT with vaccine czar, secretary Carlito Galvez, and testing czar, secretary Vince Dizon.
Quoting Puyat, Maquiling harped on how the DOT took the lull in tourist traffic amidst the quarantine restrictions. “Last July to September, we double-up vaccination efforts for tourism workers, and as of 22 October 2021, we have vaccinated 285,613 or 67.13 percent of our active tourism workers nationwide,” he added.
In the National Capital Region alone, where he serves concurrently as regional director, he said the region, through Puyat’s persistence, “has already recorded a 99 percent vaccination rate, covering both accommodation frontliners and workers of other tourism-related establishments.”
The Dumaguete-born tourism executive expressed confidence “that Dumaguete will also hit 100 percent vaccination rate before [its] fiesta on November 24 and 25,” commending the city mayor in his staunch leadership and efforts in vaccinating its people.
According to mayor Remollo, among those eligible to be vaccinated are Dumaguete and neighboring town’s workers of accommodation establishments, restaurants, cafes, food outlets, souvenir shops, dive shops, motor rentals, spas, tourism destinations, transportation sector, tour guides, tour and travel operators, massage therapists, pedicab drivers, creative industries, cultural workers, event organizers, museums and art galleries.
About 81, 529 doses of COVID-19 vaccines have already been administered to 46, 743 eligible residents using Sinovac, Astrazeneca, Pfizer, Moderna, Janssen and Sinopharm jabs as of October 26, 2021.
Also present during the intimate ceremony include vice mayor Karissa Tolentino-Maxino; councilors Lilani Ramon, Michael Bandal, Edgar Lentorio Jr.; Liga ng mga Barangays president Dionie Amores; former vice mayor Woodrow Maquiling Sr.; and city health officer Dr. Maria Sarah Talla; city sectoral desk officer Albert Aquino; and the representatives from the provincial and regional offices of DOT.
