Declaring 29 November to 01 December 2021 as Bayanihan, Bakunahan National COVID-19 Vaccination Days

November 24, 2021

PROCLAMATION NO. 1253

DECLARING 29 NOVEMBER TO 01 DECEMBER 2021 AS BAYANIHAN, BAKUNAHAN NATIONAL COVID-19 VACCINATION DAYS

WHEREAS, Section 15, Article II of the Constitution declares it a policy of the State to protect and promote the right to health of the people;

WHEREAS, Section 2 of Republic Act (RA) No. 11525, otherwise known as the "COVID-19 Vaccination Program Act of 2021," provides that the State shall adopt an integrated approach to health development which shall endeavor to make essential social services available to all people at an affordable cost, and address the adverse impact of COVID-19 through the procurement and administration of safe and effective vaccines;

WHEREAS, on 01 March 2021, the Department of Health implemented the Philippine National Deployment and Vaccination Plan for COVID-19 Vaccines, with the aim to vaccinate at least 70% of the country's total population;

WHEREAS, from 28 February to 14 November 2021, the Philippines has received and procured a total of 123,258,340 doses of COVID-19 vaccines;

WHEREAS, as of 18 November 2021, a total of 73,917,573 doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered, with more than 32 Million Filipinos having been fully vaccinated; and

WHEREAS, considering the goal to vaccinate at least 70% of the total population, including individuals aged 12 to 17, and that approximately 53 Million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have yet to be administered, there is a need to cultivate the Bayanihan spirit of the Filipino people by forging unity and cooperation among relevant stakeholders to expedite and intensify the government's vaccination program against COVID-19;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution and existing laws, do hereby declare 29 November to 01 December 2021 as "Bayanihan, Bakunahan National COVID-19 Vaccination Days."

For this purpose, the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), in cooperation with the National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19, shall lead the observance of the Bayanihan, Bakunahan National COVID-19 Vaccination Days, and the implementation of programs, activities and campaigns relative thereto.

The Department of Education, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Information and Communications Technology, Department of Tourism, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of National Defense, Department of Transportation, and their attached agencies, together with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, Philippine Information Agency, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Commission on Higher Education and Presidential Communications Operations Office, as well as other relevant agencies, government-owned or -controlled corporations, state universities and colleges and local government units (LGUs), are hereby directed, and, medical, nursing and allied health associations, faith-based, civil society and non-government organizations, and the private sector, are hereby encouraged to actively participate and provide the necessary support and assistance to the DOH, the DILG and the NTF for the effective implementation of this Proclamation.

The LGUs shall mobilize all resources, stakeholders, health human resource and constituents within their areas of jurisdiction to achieve the objectives of the National COVID-19 Vaccination Days.

All health workers, including doctors, nurses, midwives, pharmacists, dentists, and medical technologists, are called upon to extend their full support and cooperation in providing COVID-19 vaccination during the three-day campaign.

Employees and workers of the government and the private sector, who will be vaccinated during the aforesaid period, shall not be considered absent from their work, provided that they present proof of vaccination to their respective employers, subject to rules that may be issued by the DOLE and the Civil Service Commission.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the Republic of the Philippines to be affixed.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 24th day of November, in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Twenty-One.

 

Published in the Official Gazette, Vol. 117, No. 48, p. 11149 on November 29, 2021.