BPO, Comelec frontline workers now in A4 vaccination group

Personnel from the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector and frontline employees of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) are now included in the A4 priority group for the government's COVID-19 vaccination program.

This decision was approved by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) through Resolution 116.

Also included in the A4.2 priority list are dealers, retailers, and attendants of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

The A4 sector includes workers who need to physically report to their jobs despite quarantine restrictions.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez highlighted the BPO sector's significant economic contributions, including nearly $30 billion in annual export revenues, surpassing even OFW remittances.

Lopez also emphasized the sector's role in job creation, with approximately 1.32 million direct and 4 million indirect employment opportunities.

He further noted that the BPO industry was unique in not laying off workers during the pandemic and even continued hiring, thereby aiding the country's economic recovery and maintaining stable credit ratings.

The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce of the Philippines Inc. has called to focus vaccination efforts in the NCR Plus to achieve herd immunity faster.