DAVAO CITY- The president of the Davao Tourism Association, Renato "Gatchi" Gatchalian said that it is the new role of the business owners to inform and educate their workers on the benefits of COVID-19 vaccines.
“It is now our role as businessmen to let them (employees) understand na because of the situation they have to cooperate, they just have to resurrender themselves to this weapon, kasi hindi natin alam etong gyera na hindi natin nakikita ang kalaban, kelangan natin ng weapon at ang bakuna ay isang sandata. (we do not know this war, which we do not see the enemy, we need this weapon and the vaccine is the weapon).
Gatchalian’s DATA along with various tourism businesses in Davao City is partnering with the City Government of Davao to vaccinate around 5,000 to 7,000 tourism workers in the city.
DATA is an association of tourism and tourism-allied establishments operating in the city.
Gatchalian a popular local restaurateur known for his coffee shops and themed restaurants said many of tourism-related businesses including restaurants and other dining establishments were gravely affected by the pandemic. He sees the vaccine as a way of recovery.
He describes the changes in quarantine status as an on-off switch which is hard for a businessman to plan.
“But as businessmen we look for a better future and we are very hopeful with the arrival of the vaccine, it will help us restart slowly but surely,” Gatchalian said.
One of the problems they will be encountering is vaccine hesitancy among the tourism workers.
“Ang challenge pa rin natin ngayon is convincing the workers in our sector to be vaccinated, it is a challenge because not everyone agrees with it (vaccines),” Gatchalian said.
He said currently they are prepping up for the start of the vaccines and among their activities is an information campaign to convince the tourism sector workforce to be open about vaccination.
The information campaign will be participated by tourism business leaders and tourism business owners.
For DATA president-elect Cherry Al-ag, their thrust is to educate first the workers about the vaccines are many of them are still confused because of what they read online or what was told to them.
“Pasabton nato ang mga workers kay daghan confused, daghan sources na muingon pag ma vaccinate kay ing-ani mahitabo, We do not also discount the fact on the possible side effects. Pero kung mahadlok ta magpabakuna, dili ba mas hadlok magkasakit ta? mas hadlok ang maospital ta, ang matakdan atong pamilya, di ba mas hadlok? (We have to make the workers understand because many are confused, There are many sources telling them that if they get vaccinated these will happen to them. We do not discount the fact on the possible side effects but if we are scared of being vaccinated, is it much scary to be ill with COVID, to be in a hospital or infect our family and loved ones?),” Al-ag said.
Nearly 7,000 tourism workers in Davao City have registered for the program and will be vaccinated. The vaccination site will be at the Grand Pavilion of the Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao. DATA is targeting to start the vaccination by June 30. (PIA/RG Alama)
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