As in-person classes are reinstituted, City Savings Bank, Inc. (CitySavings) joins DepEd in its nationwide vaccination drive among its teaching and non-teaching personnel via a raffle promo to reward fully vaccinated teacher-clients. More than 230 were doubly delighted as they received cash prizes of P2,000 each.
“Para sa (mga) bata, at para sa bayan.”
This is what teacher Benjar Ferrer of Galarin Elementary School in Urbiztondo, Pangasinan believes about his being fully vaccinated against COVID-19. He understands the importance of teachers being immunized, especially with the phased roll-out of in-person classes. He adds, “Libre naman magpabakuna. Pumunta ka lang sa vaccination center.”
Teacher Robert Baluyot of Alabel National High School in Alabel, Saranggani admits that there is still some vaccine hesitancy from his colleagues. Some of the reasons stem from “(the kind of) knowledge and information sources my co-teachers access, experience (or lack of) with vaccine-preventable diseases, the role of health professional recommendations, social norms, parental responsibility, trust, and religious beliefs.”
The Department of Education’s (DepEd) “Vacc2School” campaign seeks to address these concerns through proper awareness and information on getting protected with the vaccine. Another is through positive reinforcement, encouraging teachers to get their shot(s) by incentivizing them.
City Savings Bank, Inc. (CitySavings) joined DepEd in its nationwide vaccination drive among teachers and non-teachers alike. The Bank believes that health and safety are top priorities to protect the country’s education frontline heroes and their learners. With this, CitySavings showed its support through a raffle promo to reward fully vaccinated teacher-clients.
There were more than 230 winners who were doubly delighted including Albien Arayan of Tagbina, Surigao del Sur who said: “Thank you, CitySavings! Simple is good indeed!”
Charity and generosity also resonated for winners like Carlo Masangcay of Northern Naguilian National High School in La Union.
“Inilaan ko ang kalahati ng aking napanalunan para sa napili kong mag-aaral sa aking advisory class. Ang kalahati naman, ibinigay ko sa aking Nanay. Konti man kung tutuusin, pero ang tuwa nito sa kanila ay hindi matatawaran ng anumang halaga,” he related.
As DepEd allows ‘progressive expansion’ of physical classes, being fully vaccinated is just one more step in making sure this will be done safely and in compliance with strict health standards. With the right kind of encouragement and reinforcement, we are reassured that our teachers can slowly recover and even improve the state of the country’s educational system “para sa mga bata at para sa bayan”.
