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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.

The Provincial Government of La Union has stepped up its campaign against minors and unlicensed drivers in driving motor vehicles through the enactment of the ordinance No. 303-2021 entitled Penalizing any Person Allowing, Consenting, Inducing or Directing Minors and Unlicensed Drivers to Drive Motor Vehicles.

This was approved after a series of discussions by the members of the 22nd Sangguniang Panlalawigan confirming that several vehicular accidents that occurred in the province involves minors and unlicensed drivers driving motor vehicles.

SP Member Francisco Paolo P. Ortega V and author of the ordinance, said that as per La Union Police records, numerous accidents in the province involve unlicensed drivers and minors who, in their tender years are at times careless, and are not supposed to be driving motor vehicles. He even pointed out that accidents were mostly caused by lack of proper knowledge on traffic rules and regulations.

The ordinance specifically states that it shall be unlawful for any person of legal age to allow, consent, induce, or direct any minor to drive any motor vehicle for any purpose. It shall likewise prohibit any owner/person to allow, consent, induce, or direct, any person who is not a possessor of a driver’s license duly issued, to drive a motor vehicle.

Any person found guilty thereof shall be penalized of imprisonment of not less than five months but not more than one year or a fine of Php 5,000.00 or both at the discretion of the court. Should an accident happen as a result thereof, the person found guilty shall be imposed the penalty of an imprisonment of one year or a fine of Php 5,000.00 or both at the discretion of the court, without prejudice to criminal, civil and administrative case.

Minor offenders will be subjected to mandatory guidance counseling with the Municipal Social Welfare Development Officer or any of his/her designated personnel in the presence of either or both parents/guardians of the minor.

“The monitoring and implementation will be done by Local Chief Executives (LCEs) of the component Local Government Units (LGUs) of La Union, through their respective Punong Barangays, Barangay Tanods, Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team (BPAT) and/or local personnel from the Philippine National Police (PNP) and from the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to ensure compliance of the provisions of this ordinance,” Ortega added.

Classified under Priority Group A1.7 or closed setting, the La Union Provincial Jail (LUPJ) gives priority to the need for mass testing to ensure safety of all staff and Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDL) against CoViD-19. Thus, conducted an on-site RT-PCR Test for all PDL and personnel of the LUPJ on June 16, 2021.

The testing was conducted in coordination with the Provincial Health Office and Home of Hope Isolation Facility in Brgy. Sevilla, City of San Fernando, La Union.

The swabbing team, headed by Medical Technologist II Ms. Jonalyn V. Fernandez reminded all who took part in the activity of the importance of minimum health protocols as well as strict compliance to the prescribed isolation period.

Results showed that there were two individuals who tested positive out of 80 PDL and 7 LUPJ personnel. As of June 28, 2021, one of the two individuals who tested positive has already yielded a negative result while the other is recovering at the Isolation Center.

As the Regional Peace and Order Council Chairperson, Gov. Francisco Emmanuel “Pacoy” R. Ortega III emphasized the need to align all government initiatives and interventions in preserving peace and order during the Joint Meeting of the Regional of the Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, Regional Development Council and RPOC on June 16, 2021 held at the Agora, Thunderbird Resorts, City of San Fernando, La Union and virtually.
“We shall witness the presentations of our cluster accomplishments and our action plans. From here, we will know should there be need to recalibrate our course of action to cope with the latest developments of the new normal. I firmly believe that through our cohesive action in addressing the communist insurgency in the country, peace and order can be achieved in our community,” said Gov. Pacoy.
Also present in the meeting was National Security Adviser Sec. Hermogenes C. Esperon, Jr. presided the meeting and he highlighted that there is a need to remain vigilant despite the dismantling of the only guerilla front in the region.
Also discussed in the meeting were the National and Regional Situation Update; Presentation of Cluster Accomplishments for the First Semester and Catch Up Plans; and updates on Regional Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Vaccination Program; among others.

Governor Francisco Emmanuel “Pacoy” Ortega III lauded the Duterte Administration’s commitment in sustaining peace, order, and development in the regions. He believes that one of the greatest legacies of this administration is the establishment of local councils Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC). This project paved way for harmonized agency interventions in response to the insurgency problem.
Gov Pacoy expressed his support to this initiative during the conduct of “Kasama sa Pamana: Regional Pre-SONA Series” yesterday, June 15, 2021 in the City of San Fernando, La Union.
This is the seventh leg of the series of regional dialogues as part of the 6th State-of-the Nation Address (SONA) of President Rodrigo Duterte being conducted by Office of the Cabinet Secretariat (OCS) and Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO).
Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr, and PIA Director General Ramon Cualoping III presented during the forum the numerous accomplishments of the Duterte Administration in various sectors paving progress in Region 1. A comprehensive report on programs to combat the CoViD-19 pandemic and the roll-out of CoViD-19 Vaccination across the Ilocos Region was also provided by officials of the Department of Health.
Meanwhile, during the Media Briefing, Gov Pacoy highlighted the the Provincial Government of La Union’s initiatives in intensifying health provider network in delivering medical services to the constituents most especially in this time of crisis.
The pre-SONA forum was attended by key officials from the national government agencies (NGAs), local chief executives and punong barangays, non-government organizations (NGOs), academe, media, and the business sector.

In a regular session conducted last June 15, 2021, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of La Union approved the Ordinance Establishing the Comprehensive Youth Development Code of the Province, under the leadership of Sangguniang Kabataan President and Ex-Officio Member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Hon. Alyssa Kristine B. Sibuma, of whom she receives the total backing of all her colleagues in the August Body on the passage of the said ordinance authored by her.