The Provincial Government of Pangasinan under the watch of Governor Amado I. Espino III supports the ‘Massive Advocacy Campaign for COVID-19 vaccination’ of the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd).

“Nagpapasalamat ako sa CHEd sa isasagawa ninyong massive campaign for COVID-19 vaccination and ceremonial vaccination in the province of Pangasinan. Malaking tulong po ito sa pinaplano ninyong pagbubukas ng limited face-to-face classes and internships,” said Gov. Espino in a video message.

Some 1,000 tertiary students from Saint Columban’s College, Adelphi College Inc., Pangasinan State University, Mystical Rose College of Science and Technology, Colegio De Dagupan, Philippine Science and Technology, and Kingfisher School of Business and Finance were invited to the ceremonial vaccination held at the Pangasinan Training and Development Center II, Lingayen on November 12.

CHEd-Region I Director IV Rogelio T. Galera Jr. said 73 percent of higher education personnel from 1,488 offices nationwide have been inoculated and the CHEd aims to encourage college students to get vaccinated.

“As of this moment, the Commission on Higher Education is already studying the possibility of opening the limited face-to-face classes in all degree programs provided that colleges and universities will be in areas that are low risk of COVID-19 and with high vaccination rates”, said CHEd-Region I Director IV Galera.

In a video message, Gov. Espino National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19 Chief Implementer and Vaccine Czar Sec. Carlito Galvez Jr., and Department of Health Sec. Francisco Duque III commended the initiative of CHEd in helping to increase the vaccination rate.

Provincial Health Officer Anna Ma. Teresa De Guzman expressed his gratitude to CHEd for launching the program in Pangasinan as it’ll aid the province to achieve its goal of reaching herd immunity before 2022.

The CHEd-Region I plans to conduct the same program in other areas of Pangasinan (Urdaneta City, Alaminos City and San Carlos City) this month to encourage more students to be inoculated.

Also attended the program were: CHEd-Region I OIC Chief Education Program Specialist Danilo Bose and OIC Supervising Education Program Specialist Angelica Dolores.

/Lynette Iris A. Paed