Sen. Bong Go thumbs down ‘no vaccine, no 4P’ policy

SAYING to be poor is already hard enough (“mahirap maging mahirap”), Sen. Christopher Lawrence ‘Bong’ Go, has nixed the proposal to compel poor Filipinos, be vaccinated in return for their continued access to the government’s socio-economic subsidy (4P).

In a statement last November 12, 2021, the solon instead called on the government to provide “cash incentive” to poor Filipinos who remain reluctant to be vaccinated against COVID-19. The incentive, he added, should be on top of what they are already receiving under the government’s ‘Pantawid ng Pamilyang Pilipino Program’ (4P).

“Nananawagan ako kay Pangulong Duterte na magbigay tayo ng cash incentive para mahikayat ang mga 4Ps members na magpabakuna na sa lalong madaling panahon,” said Go.

Go proposed that the added benefit be given only to beneficiaries who have received their full dose of anti-COVID vaccine.

The proposal to withheld government benefits to 4P beneficiaries came after the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), bared that only 16 percent of the 4.17 million $P bebeficiaries are fully vaccinated against the highly-infectious virus as of October 29, 2021.

“Mahirap talaga ang maging mahirap. Kaya huwag na nating dagdagan ang pahirap sa kanila,” Go stressed.

God had expressed objection to 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.

“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 explained.

Meanwhile, Go also expressed confidence that Pres. Duterte would soon approve the proposal to limit the use of face shields in public places.

The Philippines has been criticized for being the only country in the world requiring the mandatory wearing of face shields, even in the comfort of their own homes.

Go said that based on his discussion with President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday, November 14, 2021, the latter agreed with the proposal of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) on the limited use of face shields.

“Sa pag-uusap namin ng Pangulo, aaprubahan na niya ang proposal ng IATF para limitado na lamang na paggamit ng mga face shields,” said Go.

“Ang pangunahing proteksyon naman natin ay ang mask at ang bakuna. Dagdag na proteksyon ang face shield pero puwede nang hindi gawing mandatory ‘yan,” he explained.

Manila is the first local government unit (LGU) to discard the mandatory use of face shield except in selected areas thru an executive order signed by Manila mayor Francisco ‘Isko Moreno’ last November 8, 2021.