Santo Tomas LGU gives cash to barangays with high vax rate

In a statement, Santo Tomas Mayor Ernesto Evangelista said the incentive aims to recognize barangay officials and its residents for their participation to the COVID-19 immunization campaign of the government. 

“Naghatag kita og cash incentives isip paghatag og recognition sa atong mga barangay officials ug mga residente tungod sa ilang participasyon sa resbakuna campaign sa atong gobyerno,” he said. 

Topping the list is Barangay New Visayas with 68.26 percent vaccinated residents followed by Barangay Salvacion with 65.70 percent vaccinated residents, and Barangay Pantaron with 61.38 percent vaccinated residents. 

The report was provided by the Municipal Health Office (MHO) based on the available data as of December 31, 2021. 

A P50, 000 cash was awarded to Barangay New Visayas; P30, 000 cash for Barangay Salvacion, and a P20, 000 cash for Barangay Pantaron. 

Evangelista said cash incentive was part of his administration’s strategy to ramp up the vaccination rate. 

He added that it will be the discretion of the barangays on how they will spend the money if it will be for development projects or social services.

“Ang Kapitan na ang bahala kung unsaon nila na ang kwarta na ilang nadaugan. Basta kita sa Santo Tomas LGU (local government unit) maningkamot lang na mangita og pamaagi na makab-ot nato ang herd immunity para kita mismo kusog atong depensa batok sa COVID1-19,” Evangelista said. 

On Monday, punong barangays received the cash incentives from the mayor himself in recognition for stepping-up the vaccination activities of the municipal government. 

Evangelista thanked the Tomasinos, the barangay officials, and other frontline workers in the community for doing their share as the nation still grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Municipal Administrator lawyer Elisa Evangelista-Lapiña for her part, said the LGU’s main vaccination site would remain operational in addition to the teams conducting vaccination activities catering to barangays as satellite inoculation sites.

Evangelista-Lapiña said they’re preparing for the resumption of the vaccination program as the municipal government awaits for the order from the Department of Health (DOH) for the administration of booster shots for the eligible population.

She said the LGU is thinking other incentives such as eased restrictions, and more mobility for fully vaccinated individuals.