SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian on Tuesday urged the Department of the Interior and Local Government and local government units to help the Department of Education vaccinate teachers.

Gatchalian made the call as the government prepares to pilot test limited face-to-face classes on November 15.

“Even though the teacher wants to be in the school but cannot get access to the vaccines because there is no prioritization, then it’s not the fault of the teacher that he or she cannot get access to the vaccines. So, the point is to give special priority to our teachers because the push here is to go back to face-to-face classes,” he said.

During the Senate panel hearing on preparations for limited face-to-face classes, Undersecretary Nepomuceno Malaluan reported that 57 percent of teachers have been vaccinated, which is equivalent to more than 580,000 of around 970,000 teachers and non-teaching personnel.

“I know that some LGUs are partnering with their local districts or their local divisions to prioritize teachers. The DILG can play a very big role in encouraging or even pushing for these partnerships,” said Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture.

DILG Undersecretary Ricojudge Echiverri assured lawmakers that the department will work with the DepEd to speed up the inoculation of teachers.

Malaluan assured the Senate panel that DepEd will pursue an institutional approach to vaccination and work with the National Task Force Against Covid19.