• CHRYSEE G. SAMILLANO
An ordinance institutionalizing and mandating the full implementation of the National Immunization Program (NIP) of the Department of Health (DOH) in the City of Bacolod, was recently approved by the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod on first reading.
Authored by Councilor Em Ang, the proposed ordinance said that its primary purpose is to safeguard the health and well-being of residents from all forms of vaccine-preventable diseases by mandating and institutionalizing the full implementation of the National Immunization Program (NIP). It aims to ensure that parents recognize the right of every child to survival and healthy development through comprehensive, mandatory vaccination.
The mandatory basic immunization for all infants and children provided in Republic Act No. 10152 and Republic Act No. 7846 will cover the following vaccine-preventable diseases: Tuberculosis, Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Poliomyelitis, Measles, Mumps, Rubella or German Measles, Hepatitis-B, Haemophilus Influenzae Type B (HiB), and such other diseases as may be determined by the Department of Health, it said.
The Ordinance to be known as the “Bacolod City National Immunization Program (NIP) Implementation Code of 2026,” provides for the barangay councils to encourage and actively mobilize their constituents to undergo scheduled immunizations, and assist the City Health Office (CHO) during special immunization campaigns by providing barangay ordinances, health human resources, and transportation, as well as integrate immunization activities and counterpart funding into their respective Barangay Development Plans.
The amount of P2 million will be appropriated annually from the General Fund for the continuous and effective implementation of this Ordinance, covering logistics, cold chain maintenance, supplies, and AEFI support.*
