GENERAL TRIAS CITY, Cavite—The local government here has promised to include “jitney” and tricycle drivers in getting the free COVID-19 vaccine once it becomes available in the market.
Mayor Antonio Ferrer promised this during a meeting with 30 leaders of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association (JODA) and Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association (TODA) at the Jollibee GenTri Bayan function room in barangay Bagumbayan on Monday.
“The city government plans to buy the vaccine king hindi kayo i-considered as frontliners. We the LGU will provide to all around 4,000 members of jeepney and tricycle drivers to them to continued transporting passengers,” Ferrer told the drivers.
“Para makalabas agad, para makapasada agad, hindi po kayo kayang sustentuhan ng pamahalaang lokal. Ang priority po natin ay kumita ang bawat isa para mabuhay ay para umusod ang ekonomiya.” Ferrer added.
He stressed that persons 15 years old and below and 65 years and older should not be allowed to ride their vehicles to prevent the spread or infection of COVID in the area, and passengers must be required to wear face masks and shields upon riding.
Rep. Luis Ferrer IV of the Lone District of General Trias also said he is ready to cooperate in opening new access roads or streets for ease of traffic flow in the area and to install decent jeepney and tricycle terminals in the city.
Lionel Dalope, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG)-Cavite provincial director, was also a guest in the said meeting and explained the COVID situation in the country.
“Based on the study, there is new variant of COVID. wag po tayo pakampante or relax sa panahon ngayon. Ugaliin po natin sumunod sa guidelines, hindi po solusyon ang puro reklamo,” Dalope said.
“Huwag po natin abusuhin ang luwag ng quarantine, as President Rodrigo Roa Duterte announced that Cavite will remain under Moderate General Community Quarantine (MGCQ) mode until January 31, 2020,” the director added.
DILG also awarded Gen. Trias as the Best LGU in the conduct of contact tracing in the province.
Dalope said it was proof of the diligence and the commendable performance of the LGU in the protection of its citizenry against the coronavirus.
He said Ferrer and the LGU continued to provide financial and material support to local folks, “a performance worthy of emulation and enviable adherence to the high standard of public service.”
General Trias has 2,230 total COVID-19 cases, 23 active cases, 2,167 recoveries and 40 deaths as of December 29, per the City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit record.
Twenty-one of 33 villages are now COVID-free, and seven villages only have single cases each.