Dr. Salustiano Jimenez, Department of Education in Central Visayas director, says that DepEd-7 plans to conduct a survey of teachers in the region to identify those who want to have the COVID-19 vaccines. | CDN Digital file photo
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Department of Education in Central Visayas (DepEd-7) plans to conduct a survey of their teachers within the week to identify those who are willing to have the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines.
Dr. Salustiano Jimenez, regional director of DepEd-7, said this after the COVID-19 vaccines had already arrived in the country.
“I am contemplating of coming up with a survey, para sa atong mga teachers — who are those teachers who wanted to be vaccinated. Kinsa (o) dili. So mag-float ta ug survey bahin ana,” Jimenez said.
(I am contemplating of coming up with a survey for our teachers — who are those teachers who wanted to be vaccinated. Who wanted to have it or who don’t want to have it. So we will float a survey for that.)
Jimenez, however, admitted that some of their teachers were still hesitant or undecided to take the vaccine.
“Because when I visited some of the schools, like I went to Daanbantayan, and then asked teachers whether they were willing to be vaccinated. Daghan gyud ang dili gusto. Ang uban daghan pod ang undecided. Pila ra gud to ang raise sa ilang hands,” he said.
(Because when I visited some of the schools like I went to Daanbantayan, and then I asked the teachers whether they were willing to be vaccinated. Many did not like to be vaccinated. Others were undecided. There were only a few who raised their hands.)
He said that some teachers told him that they were afraid or worried to be vaccinated.
Read: LIST: Priority groups for government’s Covid-19 vaccination program
Due to this, Jimenez said that they would intensify their advocacy in educating their teaching and non-teaching personnel about the vaccine.
He said that last January, their medical-personnel and teachers had already undergone orientation on the COVID-19 vaccination.
Jimenez said that they were also waiting for instructions from their central office on this effort.
“As of now, I can’t say if it’s voluntary or not. It would still be dependent on the order from the higher office. If the government, moingon nga kinahanglan ang tanang teachers, ingon ana, mo-abide lang ta,” he said.
(As of now, I can’t say if it’s voluntary or not. It would still be dependent on the order from the higher office. If the government will say that it is necessary for all teachers then that will be it. We will abide by it.)
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