Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia called the country’s COVID-19 frontliners modern day heroes as the nation marked National Heroes Day on Monday, August 30.
“As we are in our second year amid the pandemic, we again honor our modern day heroes, our frontliners, who despite their exhaustion and fear, continue to brave the battlegrounds of this health crisis,” Lacson said.
Lacson urged everyone else to get vaccinated and adhere to strict health protocols that are crucial measures in the fight against Covad-19.
Now is the time to rise above self-interest for the good of all, he said.
Leonardia also thanked “our modern-day heroes – our frontliners – who continue to serve and offer their time, skills and talents to serve our people and our beloved Bacolod City in the midst of this pandemic.”
He also thanked the Bacolodnons for their “continued cooperation and compliance in observing and following important health protocols to ensure the safety of our families.”
Bacolod City launched its 24/7 vaccination center and the third mobile vaccination unit or, the VAX-i, at the Jollibee branch along Gatuslao-Burgos Streets on Monday.
The launching, which coincided with the National Heroes’ Day celebration, was led by the Emergency Operations Center-Task Force represented by Dr. Chris Sorongon – EOC deputy, Dr. Edwin Miraflor Jr. – City Health Office officer-in-charge, and EOC Secretariat head and Executive Assistant Teresa Manalili.
Councilors Carl Lopez and Bartolome Orola Sr. commended the strong public-private partnership in the campaign against the pandemic as shown by the support of the Ponce Group of Companies, franchise holder of Jollibee, represented by Marigold Ponce, and the Merzci Pasalubong of businessman Jonathan Lo.
Representing Merzci, which owns the third VAX-i bus, was the company’s public relations and marketing head, Femmy Lee Magbanua.*