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La Union continues to thoroughly expand the province’s #BakunaMuna Program as it undertakes another milestone today, June 22, 2021 by launching the First La Union Mega Vaccination Site at the Father Burgos Gym, Saint Louis College, City of San Fernando, La Union.

For the first day of the operations of the La Union Mega Vaccination Center, over 400 individuals received their first dose of CoViD-19 vaccine jab. Around 1,000 vaccines can be administered a day in the site if supplies permit.

Ensuring the observance of the Minimum Health Standards, the site can cater to 150 individuals per hour with enough ventilation and social distancing. The mega vaccination site will play an integral role in Provincial Government of La Union’s key objectives in its CoViD-19 Immunization Program.

Gov. Francisco Emmanuel “Pacoy” R. Ortega III expressed his gratitude to all partner agencies and frontliners for their support to the #BakunaMuna Program of the Provincial Government of La Union (PGLU) and added, “Sa ating site, sinigurado ang efficient vaccination process sa pamamagitan ng establishment of vaccine stations, proper ventilation, emergency vehicles on standby, installment ng data management system, provision of relevant strategic communication materials, at appropriate facilities such as comfort rooms, water stations and parking areas.”

Gov. Pacoy also highlighted the PGLU’s plan to open two more Mega Vaccination Sites located in the La Union Medical Center and Bacnotan District Hospital to strategically cater to adjacent local government units. He expressed that the three sites aim to consume the three trays of Pfizer vaccines, with about 1170 shots each in hopes to receive more allocations given that the province is equipped with ultra-low temperature freezers.

As of press time, the mega vaccination site will cater to priority groups A1 to A3 and will add to the existing 21 vaccination sites in the La Union. Each local government unit has one vaccination site, while the City of San Fernando, La Union, has two vaccination sites.

As of June 21, 2021, 6PM, a total of 46,870 individuals have already been vaccinated with first dose while 15,734 individuals for second dose. The province has already attained 70.23% complete doses for priority group A1, 28.80% for priority group A2, and 0.79% for A3. As of June 21, 2021, 8PM, there are 588 active CoViD-19 cases in the province.

The PGLU continues to innovate and partner with stakeholders in order to achieve herd immunity the fastest possible time. With the opening of the new vaccination site, the province is optimistic that the vaccination of kaprobinsiaan will be fast tracked and the rest of the La Union population will be protected from the virus.

The Provincial Government of La Union (PGLU) through the Provincial Public Employment Service Office (PESO-La Union) in partnership with the Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University – Mid La Union Campus (DMMMSU-MLUC) conducted an orientation to the Special Program for the Employment of Students (SPES) Workers on June 21, 2021 at DMMMSU-MLUC Covered Court, City of San Fernando, La Union with 47 SPES workers attendees.

With the Provincial Government of La Union’s goal of rolling out CoViD-19 Vaccines to priority groups faster, PGLU’s CoViD-19 Vaccination Task Force conducts ocular inspection at the identified mega vaccination site located in Father Burgos Gym, Saint Louis College, City of San Fernando, La Union yesterday, June 18, 2021.
The said hub offers adequate space to cater 150 residents from different local government units per hour. In addition to that, measures for indoor settings such as proper ventilation were enough to ensure the safety of the residents waiting inside the said facility to get their CoViD-19 vaccine jab.
Strengthening efforts and providing strategic solutions to public health system is one of the PGLU’s commitment in order to protect the residents against CoViD-19. PGLU is committed to vaccinate every Kaprobinsiaan, so that together we can achieve the recovery of our economy. #BakunaMuna

In adherence to the Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999, the Provincial Government of La Union, through the Environment and Natural Resources Office partnered with the Land Transportation Office Regional Office I (LTO-I), Environmental Management Bureau Regional Office I (EMB-I), Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group and the Local Government Unit of San Juan, La Union in conducting a roadside Vehicle Emission Testing on June 18, 2021 at Brgy. Ili Sur, San Juan, La Union.
The emission test was initiated by the EMB-I using their gas analyzer for gas-fueled vehicles and opacimeter for diesel-fueled vehicles. A total of 66 vehicles were inspected and tested. Three (3) gas-fueled vehicles and six (6) diesel-fueled vehicles failed the emission test. The drivers were apprehended by LTO and were advised to check-up vehicles that failed the test.
The activity aims to ensure that vehicles in La Union are strictly complying with the health and safety guidelines of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, including the roadworthiness standard. Smoke belching is not only harmful to the environment, but it also poses health problems since breathing polluted air would lead to numerous illnesses.
As stated in Section 1 (Roadside Inspection) of Rule XXXV (Roadside Inspection of Motor Vehicles) of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Republic Act 8749 also known as the Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999, vehicles found emitting excessive smoke while operating in any public highway shall be subjected to an emission test by properly equipped enforcement teams from LTO or its duly deputized agents. Violators will be subject to fines/penalties.

Equipped with the required storage facility for Pfizer vaccines, the Provincial Government of La Union, headed by Gov. Francisco Emmanuel “Pacoy” R. Ortega III, received today, June 18, 2021, the first batch of the said vaccine brand which includes four trays or 780 vials for first dose allocated for A1-A3 priority list as the #BakunaMuna Program of the province continues.

The Department of Health (DOH) turned over two trays containing 195 vials each to the Provincial Health Office (PHO) while one tray each were turned over to Bacnotan District Hospital (BDH) and La Union Medical Center (LUMC).

To ensure proper handling and administration of the vaccine without spoilage, a dry run of the handling and inoculation of the Pfizer Vaccine will be conducted on Monday, June 21, 2021 before the actual vaccination on Tuesday, June 22, 2021 for the PHO and Wednesday, June 23, 2021 for BDH and LUMC. The province targets 250 to 300 vaccinees per day, per venue and to administer all vaccines within the week.

In a meeting with District Hospital Chiefs and Officers-In-Charge, PGLU CoViD-19 Vaccination Program Task Force Focal Person and Vaccination Operations Manager Dr. Dan William Dacanay emphasized that the capacity of the province to handle the Pfizer vaccines is a testament of the efficiency of the vaccination program of La Union. “When we can carry the Pfizer Vaccines, we will be able to determine if we can carry all other vaccine brands,” he said.

The PGLU has purchased three units of Ultra Low 512L, -70ºC Freezers in March in preparation for the arrival of the Pfizer Vaccines considered as the most temperature-sensitive CoViD-19 vaccine brand required to be stored within -60ºC to -80ºC.

A total of 35,100 doses of the said vaccines was turned over to Region 1 on June 15, 2021 and as of writing, only the provinces of La Union and Pangasinan have received vials within the region.

While the arrival of the Pfizer Vaccines is expected to bring higher demand for CoViD-19 vaccination in general, Gov. Pacoy reminds the public to remain vigilant despite getting inoculated, saying, “The best vaccine is the one available. We continue to observe the minimum health standards even after getting the complete dose of vaccines.”

The Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPAg) and Local Economic Enterprise and Investment Promotions Unit (LEEIPU) refine their commitments to the Province’s Stronger La Union Strategy by undergoing Strategic Execution Workshops on June 10 and 17, respectively at the Provincial Capitol, City of San Fernando, La Union.

To reach more people by building accessible and easy-to-locate vaccination hubs in the province, the Provincial Government of La Union (PGLU) lays out a plan to open its mega vaccination hub to Kaprobinsiaan.
The proposed mega vaccination site will play an instrumental role in PGLU’s key objectives in its CoViD-19 Immunization Program and, at the same time, opens opportunities to Kaprobinsiaan who are eligible as per the requirement from the Department of Health (DOH) to get vaccinated.
Moreover, the PGLU, through the Provincial Health Office, also eyes to intensify partnership with private hospitals for the expansion of vaccination sites across the province.
According to Dr. Dan William Dacanay, CoViD-19 Vaccination Program Task Force Focal Person and Vaccination Operations Manager, there are 21 vaccination sites in the province of La Union today. Each local government unit has one (1) vaccination site, while the City of San Fernando, La Union, has two (2) vaccination sites located in Barangay Poro and Union Christian College. The PGLU, in partnership with Saint Louis College, is now preparing the Father Burgos Gym to be the province’s mega vaccination site.
Meanwhile, Governor Francisco Emmanuel R. Ortega III emphasized the importance of digitalization in response to the CoViD-19 pandemic. As he convened the La Union’s CoViD-19 Vaccination Program Task Force (CVP-TF) today, June 17, 2021, Gov. Pacoy ordered the strengthening of data systems for a more comprehensive registration, monitoring, and reporting of the #BakunaMUna CoViD-19 Vaccination Program.
The Governor will meet the Information & Communications Technology Unit of PGLU to tackle the formulation of digital tools that can be used in addressing challenges when it comes to planning, logistics management, vaccination roll-out, and immunization monitoring.
The Provincial Government of La Union vows to continue its effort to achieve herd immunity and partner with other stakeholders to ramp up the number of Kaprobinsiaan to be vaccinated.