Tagum Cooperative remains one of the many essential establishments that are still standing despite the ravaging of the worldwide pandemic, COVID-19. This is due to the efforts of the Officers, Management and Staff to provide the needs of its members and the surrounding communities.
Bearing in mind the continued safety of its employees and its transacting members, Tagum Cooperative in coordination with the City Health Office brings the vaccination program to Tagum Cooperative. A total of 240 “vacinnees” composed of TC employees and their dependents availed their first doses on September 22, 2021 held on Tagum Cooperative Gymnasium in Tagum City.
CEO Juris D. Perez and TC Chairperson Noel O. Quidilla were also present during the vaccination to ensure the successful conduct of the vaccination program.
“Thank you to The City Health Office for allowing us to conduct this vaccination. We would also like to thank all those who came to take part in this program. To the Board of Directors, Officers, Management and staff led by CEO Juris Perez, and the City Health Office, thank you for doing your best everyday to provide safety and protection. To our Human Resource Management Department led by Ms. Erlybeth Plaza by making sure that PPEs such as masks, vitamins, and alcohol are being provided to our employees and making sure that all TC premises, including all TC Business Centers are being disinfected everyday” CEO Noel O. Quidilla affirms.
The City Health Office team includes Dr. Arnel R. Florendo, City health officer; Dr. April Lyndy Grace N. Senarillos, Asst. City Health Officer ; Dr. Princess Dyann W. Dumandagan, Medical Officer IV; Rae Katherine A. Pongan, Health Education and Promotion Officer (HEPO) III; and more than ten health professionals went to Tagum Cooperative to conduct the vaccination program. Beforehand, the team conducted an inspection making sure that TC’s Gymnasium passes the standards for safety as the vaccination site.
During the briefing to the employees and dependents about to be vaccinated, HEPO III Ms. Rae Katherine A. Pongan reiterated the importance of the vaccines especially those who are considered essential workers like those who are in the cooperative sector. “The best vaccine is the vaccine that is in front of you. The main purpose of the vaccination is to protect you from the worst case scenario. The vaccine is not a treatment but a form of prevention. You might be infected but with the help of the vaccination, it won’t get worse for the infected person. This will also help us protect ourselves and the families especially our children and senior citizens,” HEPO III Pongan states.
Tagum Cooperative continues to implement minimum health protocols like physical distancing and face mask and face shield requirements upon entering TC premises. One of the measures to further guarantee the safety of everyone in Tagum Cooperative is to initiate the vaccination program for the employees and their dependents.
In her message, CEO Juris D. Perez states that TC aims to achieve 100% vaccination on all its employees including the security personnel and utility personnel to guarantee safety and protection for the employees, the transacting members and the surrounding people as well. “The rolling out of vaccination will help us secure our continued operations because we are confident that all of us have the necessary protection against the virus on our day-to-day operations” CEO Perez said.
One of the recipients of the vaccination is Ms. Harlen Ky M. Sumagang, wife of Mr. Paolo Khryzz Sumagang, TC FuneCare Events Specialist. Ms. Sumagang who gave birth in July 2021 wanted to make sure that their child is safe by getting the vaccination herself. “I am happy and thankful that Tagum Cooperative offered this to their employees and their dependents. These vaccines have been developed safely that will surely protect us once we get exposed to the virus. I know some of us are still undecided because of misinformation about how the vaccine works, but these vaccines are developed with careful consideration and that they were extensively tested for both safety and efficacy. Let’s help one another in putting an end to the spreading of COVID-19.” Ms. Sumagang expresses.
A second round of first dose of vaccination has been set in October of this year to ensure that TC Employees, Officers and their dependents are protected. It can also be recalled that in 2020, during the onset of the pandemic, Tagum Cooperative donated PPEs – gloves and masks, as an immediate response to the request of the City Government of Tagum.