Magsasaka Party-list Representative Argel Cabatbat calls on the government to include the agriculture sector in the priority list of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) vaccines, citing that they are also essential workers.

According to Cabatbat, this could be the administration’s way to express their appreciation towards the farmers who have “fought tooth and nail” to keep the economy going amid the pandemic.

“In many ways, our farmers are essential workers and should be treated akin to the medical sector and our uniformed personnel. They are frontliners – in the fields and markets, and the results of their hard work are felt by everyone who needs to eat – that deserve to be treated with utmost respect,” he explained.

“However, the sad reality is that even with all their sacrifices for the nation, the farming sector remains to be one of the poorest groups of Filipinos. A threat to their health is a threat to their livelihoods, and by extension, their family’s and the Philippines’ future,” the lawmaker added.
Furthermore, Cabatbat urges the government to put the farmers’ health first because heavily relies on food security.

As of writing, the priority beneficiaries include health care workers (HCW), senior citizens, and the indigent population.

Best vaccine for senior citizens

Meanwhile, SENIOR CITIZEN Party-list Representative Rodolfo “Ompong” Ordanes appealed to the local government units (LGU) to reach out to them so they could collaborate and develop an efficient vaccine roadmap.

In a statement, the congressman said that he has wrote to League of Cities of the Philippines, League of Municipalities of the Philippines, and the Metro-Manila Council for the safe distribution of the anti-COVID-19 vaccines.

Additionally, Ordanes also called on the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) to avail the best COVID-19 vaccine possible for the senior citizens while making it accessible for those living in areas under the general community quarantine (GCQ).
“Mabuti naman na maraming klase ng bakuna na magiging available at ang iba pa nga inaasahan darating na sa Pebrero at Marso,” said Ompong.

“The science behind and underlying the vaccines should be explained thoroughly and in languages and tone the seniors can understand. Laymanize the science but tell the truth and allay the fears,” he urged.