FILE PHOTO

Guimaras provincial Governor Samuel Gumarin recently issued a memorandum that will take effect in September requiring all new applicants for provincial government position must be vaccinated.

Likewise, the new policy states that job hires must have themselves vaccinated against COVID -19 or their contracts won’t be renewed.

The aim of the new policy is to protect the health of provincial government employees and people who have transactions with the provincial government, Vice Gov. John Edward Gando said.

“Also, ang provincial government amo ang nagapanguna sa campaign sa pagpabakuna. Ti, kasirawaol ukon indi manami lantawon nga kami naga-campaign and then may job hires kami nga indi magpabakuna,” he added.

The provincial government has around 300 job hires. They are assigned in various capitol offices and provincial hospital.

“Kon indi ka magpabakuna with no reason, you will not be re-hired or hired kay wala ka man security of tenure. You are serving at the pleasure of the one issuing the job order,” said Gando.

The new policy does not cover regular capitol employees because they have security of tenure, said Gando, but they are highly encouraged to get vaccinated.

Majority of capitol’s regular employees are already vaccinated against COVID-19, stressed Gando.