Palo, Leyte – The Department of Education Regional Office VIII, led by its Regional Director Ma. Gemma Mercado Ledesma, started its vaccination roll out for its employees on August 2021. It can be noted that DepEd personnel has been included in the A4 category as approved by the President and the National IAFT.
To ensure that all DepEd employees in the region will get equal opportunity to get vaccinated, Regional Director Ledesma requested the Department of Health Regional Office VIII to immediately accommodate its employees through their respective Local Government Units despite being classified under A4 category. The said request was then approved by the Department of Interior and Local Government and DepEd employees are now being entertained by their respective LGUs on scheduled basis.
RD Ledesma further emphasized during the Regional Management Committee meeting that teachers will be discouraged to serve in the upcoming 2022 National Elections unless vaccinated.
As of August 16, 2021, out of 51,042 teaching and non-teaching personnel eligible population for vaccination all over the region, 11,473 (22%) had been vaccinated. Among these belong to A1-4 categories. A series of vaccination information dissemination and advocacies are being undertaken per division. DepEd hopes that as early of September this year, almost all of its school population will be vaccinated. This prepare the schools for the face to face resumption of classes once permitted.
