THE “VACC To The Future” slogan used by the city government of Pasay in encouraging its residents to get vaccinated was again utilized but this time, the local government targeted the transport group using the vaccine pun “Vacc TODA Future”.

Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano said some 500 members of Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association (TODA) belonging to the list of workers eligible under A4 category received their first jab of Sinovac vaccine on Thursday afternoon at the SM Mall of Asia Giga Vaccination Center.

The city chief executive said this signals the beginning of inoculation of more than 5,000 tricycle drivers plying within the city.

“Actually, two thousand ang in-allocate natin sa kanila pero ‘yung iba takot at ‘yung iba naman nanghihinayang sa biyahe kaya gumawa kami ng ganitong activity para ma-encourage ang ating transport group, hindi lang mga tricycle drivers kundi kasama na ang cab at jeepney drivers,” the mayor said.

To further address the vaccine hesitancy, Rubiano announced that TODA members who decide to take the jab are eligible for a raffle where they could win a prize of P50,000.

Ace Sevilla, president of Tricycle-Pedicab Franchising and Regulatory Office, said the raffle prize was provided by Global Mobile Services Inc., the company that helps tricycle drivers with their financial needs.

“Siyempre, hindi tayo magpapahuli, dadagdagan ko pa ang ipapa-raffle para sa members ng TODA, pati na rin ang Team Calixto sa pangunguna ni Congressman Tony Calixto at ang buong City Council, ako na hihiling sa kanila para sa inyo,” the mayor said.

After the vaccination, the office of Senator Christopher “Bong” Go offered food to members of the TODA who received their first jab of the vaccine.

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Edd Reyes