The Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Health (DOH), and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) formally launched the national BIDA Kid COVID-19 prevention campaign to support the safe expansion of face-to-face classes nationwide.

DepEd, DOH, and USAID kicked off the BIDA Kid national campaign at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall on Tuesday. The campaign encourages learners, teachers, and education stakeholders to keep practicing COVID-19 health and safety guidelines in schools and public spaces.

“One of our utmost priorities is the safety of our learners amid the risk of COVID-19. The BIDA Kid campaign is another whole-of-government initiative to encourage everyone to keep our children protected while we progressively reintroduce classroom-based learning," Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones said.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III and USAID Mission Director Ryan Washburn joined Secretary Briones to unveil the official music video and key visual of the campaign, which highlights the 3Bs: Bakuna (Vaccination), Bayanihan (Solidarity), and BIDA behaviors (Bestfriend natin ang masks, Ingatan at hugasan ang kamay, Dumistansya upang makaiwas sa sakit, Airflow ay panatilihin)(Wear masks, observe hand washing and social distancing to avoid getting sick, and maintain room airflow).

Secretary Duque highlighted the importance of the 3Bs. He reminded education stakeholders to continue observing safety measures in schools and at home amid the improving COVID-19 situation in the country.

“A safe school environment is crucial for our children’s development both academically and emotionally. This is only possible if we continue to champion COVID-19 vaccination in our communities and commit to practicing the minimum public health standards everywhere and at all times,” Secretary Duque said.

USAID Mission Director Washburn said he was grateful for the strong partnership between USAID and the national government, as a whole-of-society approach ensures that physical classes can be conducted safely.

“Face-to-face classes give students better motivation to study, having the opportunity to interact directly with their teachers and classmates. Classrooms offer a supportive environment for learning as well as social and emotional well-being," said USAID Mission Director Washburn. "As your friend, partner, and ally, the U.S. government, through USAID, will continue to collaborate with our Philippine government counterparts, so Filipinos are better able to manage the impacts and bounce back quickly from the COVID-19 pandemic."

As of March 28, around 13,692 public and private schools are conducting in-person classes, according to the latest DepEd field report. Thanks to the country’s Resbakuna Kids campaign, about 10 million children have been vaccinated against COVID-19, and the DOH continues to secure additional vaccine doses for them.

The BIDA Kid campaign, including BIDA kits, the music video, jingle, and key visuals, will be rolled out to all schools and DepEd offices. Field offices are encouraged to display and develop localized materials to further amplify the campaign's messages.

Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, partners with the Department of Health (DOH) to promote education about COVID-19 vaccines through in-app and social media initiatives. As the Philippines aims to vaccinate 70% of its population within three to five years, this partnership between Shopee and DOH augments the concerted effort of the private sector and local government units to encourage Filipinos to get vaccinated and protect themselves and their loved ones against COVID-19.

While the local government rolls out COVID-19 vaccination programs, the vaccine hesitancy rate among Filipinos continues to increase, going from 47% in January 2021 to 61% by the end of the first quarter. They remain resistant to the vaccine due to three key reasons: concerns about potential side effects, uncertainty about efficacy, and skepticism.

Martin Yu, Director at Shopee Philippines, said, “Shopee is honored to partner with the Department of Health to educate Filipinos on the importance and benefits of vaccination. Through our collaboration with DOH, we can provide the community with accurate and science-backed vaccine information. With proper education, we aim to raise the public’s awareness and hopefully encourage more people to get vaccinated.”

Beverly C. Ho, MD, MPH, Director IV, at Health Promotion Bureau DOH, said, “This partnership symbolizes what we, in the Health Promotion Bureau, want to do—meet people where they are and make living healthy easy. That's why we are thankful to use Shopee’s platform, one that effectively reaches and engages millions of Filipinos, to make RESBAKUNA reach a wider audience. The immense potential this partnership holds, not only in increasing vaccine confidence but in improving overall health literacy among Filipinos, truly excites us.”

Starting this month until August, users can learn more about vaccines’ safety and effectiveness from DOH and World Health Organization representatives. On June 23, 9:00 PM, users can watch a discussion on “Fake vs Fact on COVID-19 Vaccine Safety and Efficacy” on Shopee Live. Shopee will post helpful information about the vaccines on its official social media pages. A separate microsite will also be available on the Shopee app.

Visit https://shopee.ph/m/resbakuna-kasangga-ng-bida to stay updated on Shopee’s initiatives against COVID-19.

Download the Shopee app for free via the App Store or Google Play.