SORSOGON Governor Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero called on the government to make plans for the vaccination of the homeless and street children to protect them from Covid19.

Escudero said that the number of street children increase during the Christmas season, asking for help from motorists and the commuting public, “which make them more vulnerable and at risk of getting infected with the deadly virus.”

He pointed out that street dwellers particularly in the National Capital Region should not be left out in the vaccination program even if the metropolis has achieved herd immunity.

“Gusto kong malaman kung ang ating mga kababayan na nabubuhay sa kalsada, kasama na ang mga batang kalye, ay nababakunahan o nabakunahan na? Hindi sila dapat kalimutan dahil mahalaga rin ang kanilang kalusugan,” Escudero said in a statement.

“Bagama’t kailangan ng pangmatagalang solusyon upang sila ay maialis sa kalsada, we have to make sure that the government is looking after their protection which, of course, includes the much needed Covid19 vaccines,” he added.

The Philippine Statistics Authority listed around 4.5 million homeless people or those living in informal settlements in 2018.

About three million of them are in Metro Manila, Escudero said.

“Sa paglilimos nila sa kalsada ay nalalagay na sila sa panganib, lalo na ngayon na may banta pa ng coronavirus. Dapat isama sa pagbabakuna ang mga batang kalye at mga walang natutuluyan dahil sila rin ay parte at bahagi ng lipunan at kasama sa pagbangon ng buong bansa sa pandemya,” he added.