WHILE there is doubt in the way the government is handling the roll-out of its vaccination program, the private sector is getting more confident in its plan to implement its own strategy for inoculation.

In fact, the private sector has launched a campaign that will work on boosting Filipinos’ confidence in COVID-19 vaccines.

During the Vaccine Summit: Equitable Distribution and Safety, Presidential Adviser on Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion said some 1,000 companies joined together for the “Let’s Go Bakuna” campaign.

He said as the bulk of the vaccine supplies is set to arrive in the country in the second half of the year, confidence in COVID-19 vaccines should be boosted for the fast vaccine rollout.

“Now that we have a very clear timeline on most of these vaccines, the next is we need to have great execution and vaccine confidence,” Concepcion said. “We’ll start on working on our employees be it video materials or social media — show how safe vaccines are.”

He said that with the problem of balancing health and economy, vaccination will be the key to move forward and open the economy.

“It is now a challenge toward survival for many of our entrepreneurs. But the challenge now really is how we eliminate the virus,” he said.

Concepcion said the current health protocols like wearing of face mask, face shield, and physical distancing will only allow to coexist with COVID-19.

The private sector also ordered vaccines from various manufacturers to help in the vaccination program of the government. The government targets to inoculate 70 percent of its population to achieve herd immunity.

However, arrival of vaccines ordered by the government from global suppliers has been slow, drawing criticisms from various sectors. Some hit the government for failing to address the pressing issue of vaccine availability in the country.

Meanwhile, the private sector seems to know what to do when the vaccines start coming. Integrated energy firm Semirara Mining and Power Corp. has announced the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination plan for its workers and residents in Semirara Island as it ramps up its pandemic response.

At the company’s annual stockholders’ meeting Monday, SMPC president and chief operating officer Maria Cristina Gotianun said the company targets to inoculate 5,476 employees and indirect workers in its mine site, power plant complex, and corporate office by the second half of the year.

“The bulk of our vaccines will go to our Semirara Island workforce, as their location limits their access to timely and quality healthcare,” Gotianun said.

She added residents of Semirara Island who want to be vaccinated can receive free jabs from SMPC.

Gotianun said SMPC will also assist the local government unit in transporting, storing, and administering COVID-19 vaccines.

Aside from helping the government inoculate Filipinos against COVID-19, Gotianun added the company has also increased its employee quarantine facility by 27 percent to 276 beds.

“Plant employees who are confirmed or suspected to have COVID-19 will continue to receive their salaries despite being in quarantine,” she added.

Meanwhile, Gotianun said SMPC expects better performance of its coal business this year after a drop in sales last year due to a decline in demand from China because of quarantine restrictions and tighter import quotas.

For the power segment, SMPC targets to close bilateral contracts for around 70 percent of its total capacity next year.

SMPC is the country’s only power producer that owns and mines its own fuel source. This allows the company to generate affordable power for Luzon and Visayas grids.

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