BOTOLAN, Zambales — Mayor Doris E. Maniquiz called on stakeholders to help promote the safety, health and wellness of Botoleños’ by doing their share to ramp up the vaccination turnout in the municipality.

In the year-end meeting of the local government unit’s Public Order and Safety (POPS) cluster on Dec. 2, Maniquiz underscored that vaccination remains the top measure for protection, especially with the emergence of a new Covid-19 variant, Omicron.

“Patuloy po tayong mag-iingat, lalo ngayon na may bagong variant na mas nakakahawa. Kung kaya’t mahalaga na tayo po ay magpapabakuna,” Maniquiz said.

The mayor pointed out that Botolan was lagging among the Zambales towns in terms of vaccinated population. “Mababa ang case natin ng pagpapabakuna, kaya nakiki-usap po ako dahil ito lamang po ang paraan upang makaiwas tayo sa malubhang sakit.”

She added that getting vaccinated and attaining herd immunity is the best way forward to normalize the residents’ lives and to revive the local economy.

The POPS Cluster meeting was also attended by officials of the Municipal Peace and Order Council, Municipal Anti-Drug Abuse Council, Municipal Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, and Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

Highlights of the meeting included the presentation of the current peace and order situation and a report on cases of criminality and illegal drugs by Acting Chief of Police Noemi D. Diaz; accomplishments in the Retooled Community Support Program (RCSP) by Municipal Local Government Operations Officer Shieralyn B. Esteban and 2LT Uldarico S. Facilan Jr. of Philippine Army; and report on of drug-clearing operations in the municipality by Assistant Provincial Officer Marlou Ordoña of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

The accomplishments of the Bureau of Fire Protection, meanwhile, was presented by Fire Marshal Salvador Espares; and while Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer Andy Divino.

Discussed accomplishments in disaster preparedness and response, as well as the initial plan of action in case of a Mt. Pinatubo eruption.

The meeting ended with the awarding of the 2020 Anti-Drug Abuse Council (ADAC) Special Award Marker by DILG Zambales Provincial Director Armi V. Bactad to the local government unit of Botolan, for sustaining the drug-free status of their unaffected barangays for years 2017-2019. The marker was received by Mayor Maniquiz and Vice Mayor Doris D. Ladines.

Bactad also thanked Botolan stakeholders for always responding to the call of public service and for their hard work in sustaining peace and order in the locality and for efforts in drug-clearing.

Mayor Maniquiz, in response, thanked members of the POPS Cluster, as well as barangay officials, and reaffirmed that efforts for the welfare of the Botoleños shall remain the prime concern of the municipality. – Shieralyn B. Esteban/DILG-Zambales