Mabalacat City College, together with Mabalacat City Government, led by Mayor Crisostomo Garbo, through its Project CRIS -- Covid-19 Response Integrated System -- inoculated its 2nd batch of students today. Eight hundred vaccines were given by the National Task Force Against COVID-19, headed by Chief Implementer and Vaccine Czar, Sec. Carlito Galvez, Jr. More than 700 students registered for today and their vaccination was witnessed by CHED Chairperson Prospero De Vera III. The event was graced by Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, the Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture.
Chairman De Vera shared during the event that the vaccination of students paves the way for face-to-face classes for higher education institutions. He also asked the students to be vaccine ambassadors of their families and communities as it is the only way we can fight this pandemic. Sec. Galvez seconded this, stating that this vaccination program is vital for the community's health and safety and also the nation's economy. He added that they are in full support of LGU Mabalacat in the vaccination of its students and residents, promising that they will provide vaccines so that all willing MCC students are vaccinated this month.
Mayor Crisostomo Garbo told the MCCians getting vaccinated today, to just focus on their education, and as they do that, the local government and MCC will do everything to give them all the support they need. He also announced that the Mabalacat City Government will be helping neighboring cities, barangays and municipalities in their vaccination program to accelerate herd immunity.
Sen. Gatchalian commended the efforts to vaccinate the students as this will make safe face-to-face classes possible. He also said that local colleges and universities outside Metro Manila, like MCC and Pamantasan ng Valenzuela, are one of the best and less costly means to avail quality education without going to the capital. That is why he is grateful that the local government, led by Mayor Garbo, is giving its all-out support to its local college.
College President Dr. Michelle Aguilar-Ong expressed her gratitude for the assistance MCC is receiving from the CHED, the NTFAC, and the Local and National Government. With all the overwhelming support, she said, expect that MCC will continue to prioritize its students’ health and safety. She also emphasized the important role of the education sector in the country's economic recovery that is why all best efforts are being exerted to deliver quality education despite the pandemic challenges.
Virtual messages from the Presidential Spokesperson Harry L. Roque Jr., Department of Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque and Senator Christopher Lawrence T. Go were also viewed by the students during the program.
The event was also attended by Dr. Maria Teresita M. Semana, Officer-in-Charge (OIC)-Director of Commission of Higher Education (CHED) Region III, Dr. Teodoro “Ted” Herbosa, Special Adviser of the National Task Force Against COVID-19, Dr. Maria Paz Pecson Corrales, Assistant Regional Director of the Department of Health - NCR, and Dir. Ma. Florinda Princess E. Duque, Presidential Communications Operations Office - BCS.
The vaccination went smooth, fast, and orderly as MCC students strictly observed the protocols and instructions.
