BY CHRYSEE G. SAMILLANO
More than 29,000 Bacolodnons were administered anti-COVID vaccines yesterday during the first day of the National Vaccination Day from November 29 to December 1.
The announcement was made by Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia during the Christmas lighting ceremony last night at the Bacolod City Government Center.
“Today is a very long day. It is nonetheless a very busy start for the week. But it is very rewarding and it calls for a celebration. A double celebration if I may say,” Leonardia said.
For one, what appeared to be a very difficult target set by the Department of Health – to vaccinate at least 22,000 in a single day – on the first day of the National Vaccination Days Bayanihan Bakunahan campaign, your city government was able to achieve its goal after releasing 29,047 jabs – and counting – as of 4:30 p.m., he said.
Leonardia said they were told to vaccinate 22,000 Bacolodnons but they administered anti-COVID jabs to 29,047 and the Emergency Operations Center-Task Force is still counting.
“And today, too, in this very special event, we are celebrating the Christmas Lighting ceremony of the Bacolod City Government Center to usher in the Holiday Season,” he said.
“This event is made possible by our very own Honorary Mayor and Bacolod’s Adopted Son, Mr. Andrew Tan, of the MegaWorld,” Leonardia said.
“We pay tribute to Mr. Andrew Tan for the generosity of his spirit and his inspiring love for Bacolod City that’s why his companies invested here by the billions via the Upper East Township they have developed on a 34-hectare prime property right across where we stand today,” he said.
They have developed the high-end Forest Hill on a 53-hectare property to further show their confidence to Bacolod that was recently named the Most Business-Friendly LGU for 2021 outside of Metro Manila by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the mayor said.
As if their support to the beautification of the NGC for the Christmas Season were not enough, Mr. Andrew Tan’s group, through Emperador, will take charge of decorating the Bacolod Public Plaza and the Jubilee Tower for the holidays, Leonardia said.
Thank you, Mr. Andrew Tan. Thank you, Megaworld and Emperador. You have indeed shown the true essence of what public-private partnership is all about, he added.
Tan, in an official statement, said they are very delighted to be part of this year’s Christmas celebration of Bacolod City as they help light up the iconic New Government Center.
“Our simple yet meaningful design of the decors and the lights symbolizes the bright, dazzling, and colorful future of Bacolod City,” he said.
This is another gift of Megaworld to the people of Bacolod, Tan said.
On December 16, they are excited to open their very own McDonald’s Forbes Hill along the Bacolod-Silay Airport Access Road, he added.
Meanwhile, Leonardia said that one record of more than 29,000 jabs given, such feat would not have been possible without the cooperation of the Bacolodnons, referring to the result of the first day of the National Vaccination Day. “We thank you for coming out to support this program.”
The same can be said that such activity would not have been possible if not for the hard work of our EOC-TF people, the vaccination teams, doctors, nurses, midwives, Barangay health workers, Barangay health emergency response teams, Barangay captains, kagawads and other civic spirited individuals, private businesses and schools, the mayor said.*
