J.A.B. sa Parokya Contra COVID-19

In response to the call issued by Davao Archbishop Most Rev. Romulo G. Valles for parish-based vaccination sites, the Social Action Center (ASAC) initiated to organize an Archdiocesan Vaccination Team that will assist parishes in the conduct of a sectoral vaccination against COVID-19.

Archbishop Valles issued a Circular Letter dated August 7, 2021 to all parishes, urging them to organize a similar activity as an active response of the church to the government’s campaign to attain its herd immunity target or 70% (1.2 million) of the total population by December 2021.

“Early on this year, in these difficult times of the pandemic, we have expressed as an archdiocese to our City Government and our City Health Office in the effort to bring vaccination to as many people as quickly as possible,” Archbishop Valles stated in his Circular No. 30.

In partnership with City Health Office, through its Vaccination Team, the first sectoral (parish-based) vaccination was successfully launched at Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Barrio Obrero last July 31, 2021 where a total of 686 people were inoculated.

The parish, headed by Rev. Fr. Bong Gonzaga, prepared the venue and equipment for the 5-step process of the vaccination, including the gathering of volunteers of medical doctors, nurses, and all those in the medical field, volunteers for the encoding, orientation, ushering, validation, and counselling.

Following the successful event, Archbishop Valles endorsed the same system of coordination and organization to all parishes and issued an appeal, “to all parishioners, our friends and benefactors to assist the parish in terms of helping out in the campaign for needed volunteers… and to assist in seeing to it that the material items mentioned… will be available and ready for the vaccination to be conducted in the parish.”

During the latest Presbyterium Online Meeting August 9, 2021, ASAC Director Fr. Leonardo “Bong” Dublan, Jr. presented the plan of action dubbed as “J.A.B sa Parokya Contra Covid 19” or Joint Action (City Mayor’s Office, City Health Office and Archdiocese of Davao, Parish) for Bakuna sa Parokya.

Fr. Dublan explained that the project aims to inoculate at least 500 individuals per parish including the parish staff, parish lay leaders (GKK level) and those serving in the worship ministry, and those in the A1 to A5 categories based on IATF guidelines.

“Dili gayud pwede ang walk-in so duna gyuy pre-registration nga mahitabo,” Fr. Dublan added. (Walk-ins are not allowed so there will really be a pre-registration.) However, this project does not include residents from the Island Garden City of Samal and non-Davao City residents though there are parishes under the jurisdiction of the Archdiocese of Davao but are located outside of the political jurisdiction of Davao City.

In the proposed steps presented under the project, Fr. Dublan explained that an initial stakeholders’ meeting will be conducted in the parish to identify volunteers and roles.

After proper coordination with the city government, city health office and barangay, and identification of the role players, registration listing and other logistical needs will be mobilized down to the GKK level. At the same time, volunteers will undergo orientation by the City Health Office (CHO) Vaccination Team.

The Archdiocesan Vaccination Team is composed of 5 teams comprising 3 physicians, 10 nurses, 4 teachers or social workers, 8 BHW, health workers/staff Midwife/PSAM volunteers for a total of 25 volunteers to be trained or oriented by the CHO on the COVID-19 vaccination process. An initial meeting of volunteers was scheduled last August 13, 2021 at the San Pedro Cathedral Auditorium.

Second to launch the parish-based vaccination center was St. Joseph the Worker Parish, Sasa, led by Fr. Dublan; while St. Alpohonsus Ma. De Ligouri Parish of Mandug led by Fr. Jemasol Ortiz, Sta. Ana Shrine Parish led by Fr. Junar Dela Victoria and Fr. Amado Arroyo of San Antonio de Padua Parish in Agdao are now preparing to launch their own parish-based vaccination center.

Those willing to volunteer for the said project are advised to contact their parish priests or the Archdiocesan Social Action Center located at the back of San Pedro Cathedral, 2nd floor, Caritas Building, San Pedro Street, Davao City.