THE Kadayawan Executive Committee (ExeCom) said on July 21, 2022 that they are no longer pushing for the anti-Covid-19 vaccination of participants who wish to join the Kadayawan festival.
Instead, Spokesperson Councilor Al Ryan Alejandre said the organizers are proposing for the compliance of participants to submit their health declarations.
He added that the Kadayawan ExeCom had a discussion with City Health Office head Dr. Ashley Lopez whether or not it’s best to impose the vaccination, but said that in the end, it will be the city government’s decision.
“It’s the prerogative of the city whether we will impose it or not (but) ang amoang (our) recommendation to the mayor is health declaration na lang (only),” Alejandre said during the Pep Talks media forum at SM Lanang Premier.
“Kung naa na’y mga symptoms of Covid, dili na lang sila pakuyugon (If they manifest symptoms of Covid, then they will be advised not to participate).”
This follows after Alejndre and vaccination head cluster Dr. Josephine Villafuerte stated in previous interviews that Kadayawan participants may be asked to be fully vaccinated before being allowed to join the activities.
“Ang problema man gud ani (the problem is), we never know who carries the virus, labi na karun nga asymptomatic ang kadaghanan nga mogawas sa atong mga survey, sa atong mga swab (especially now that our survey and swab tests shows that most of positive cases are asymptomatic),” Villafuerte said during an interview with Davao City Disaster Radio on July 14.
Now, Alejandre said the committee is just waiting for the final decision of the office of City Mayor Sebastian Duterte regarding the proposal for health declarations.
In line with this, unvaccinated participants and the general public planning to join the Kadayawan celebration may get their shots at the Bakuna Para sa Katawhan Karong Kadayawan from July 26 to 30, 2022.
The vaccination event at People’s Park Davao is open to all walk-in clients under eligible populations in need of primary and missed doses, and booster shots. ICM