“MAHIRAP maging mahirap. Kaya huwag nang pahirapan pa ang mga naghihirap.”
Senator Christopher “Bong” Go appealed to the government to provide cash incentives to vaccinated Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) members to encourage more of them to get their COVID-19 vaccines instead of making vaccination mandatory. Such incentives will be on top of what 4Ps beneficiaries receive in accordance with the law.
“Nananawagan ako kay Pangulong Duterte na magbigay tayo ng cash incentives para mahikayat ang mga 4Ps members na magpabakuna na sa lalong madaling panahon,” said Go.
Go proposed that all qualified members of the 4Ps household must be fully vaccinated to receive the additional incentive.
“Sa paraang ito, naenganyo na natin silang magpabakuna, nabigyan pa natin sila ng dagdag na tulong. Bagamat walang pilitan, wala rin naman tayong tigil na hikayatin sila dahil bakuna ang tanging susi at solusyon tungo sa pagbalik sa normal na pamumuhay,” he added.
According to the DSWD, approximately only 16%, of the 4.17 million active 4Ps beneficiaries have been vaccinated, as of 29 October 2021.
Meanwhile, Go also called for strengthened vaccine confidence to encourage more Filipinos, including the indigent, to get their COVID-19 vaccines.
“Ito po ang pinaka-vulnerable sa populasyon natin na prayoridad natin upang masigurong sama-sama tayong makakaahon sa hirap. Unang-una dito ang mga 4Ps households o ang kinokonsiderang poorest of the poor,” said Go.
“Mahirap talaga ang maging mahirap. Kaya huwag na nating dagdagan ang pahirap sa kanila. Ayon sa datos, 16% pa lang ng 4Ps households ang bakunado. Kung kaya’t kailangan pa talaga natin paigtingin ang vaccine rollout upang suyurin at ienganyo sila na huwag matakot sa bakuna dahil ito ang tanging paraan upang malampasan ang krisis na ito,” he added.
He also asked the government to ensure that the vaccines also reach rural areas and poor Filipinos who are reliant on government assistance.
“Sa ating hangaring malampasan ang pandemya, sinisiguro ng gobyernong may tunay na malasakit na walang Pilipinong maiiwan sa ating muling pagbangon. Ito ang dahilan kung bakit napaka-importante po na magpabakuna upang maproteksyunan ang buong populasyon,” said Go.
“Bagamat marami na pong nababakunahan lalo na sa critical areas kung saan malaki ang populasyon, mataas ang hawahan noon, at tinatawag ring economic hubs tulad ng Metro Manila, huwag rin po sana natin pabayaan yung mga kababayan nating nasa malalayong lugar, mga mahihirap, mga walang matakbuhan o malapitan, at yung umaasa talaga sa tulong at suporta mula sa gobyerno,” he urged.
Earlier, Go expressed objection over the proposed ‘no vaccine, no subsidy’ policy, saying that it is unfair and no one should be forced to get vaccinated just to get government assistance.
Go argued that every individual has the right to take or refuse immunization. He did say, though, that the government should continue to offer incentives to encourage people to obtain their shots.
“Sa hirap ng buhay ngayon, huwag na natin silang mas pahirapan o pilitin pa. Tulungan at ipaintindi na lang natin sa kanila bakit mahalaga ang bakuna. Ilapit na natin sa kanila ang impormasyon at serbisyo na kailangan upang maproteksyunan ang buhay at kabuhayan ng lahat,” Go pointed out.
Photo by ADB
