PASAY CITY -- Senator Christopher "Bong" Go renewed his call for the government to provide cash incentives to vaccinated Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) members instead of making immunization mandatory to encourage more of them to receive their COVID-19 shots. Such benefits will be in addition to what 4Ps recipients are entitled to under the law.

“Muli po akong nananawagan sa gobyerno na pag-aralan ang posibilidad na bigyan ng dagdag ayuda bilang insentibo ang mga fully vaccinated na miyembro ng 4Ps,” said Go.

"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.

Go stated that no one should be left behind on the country's road to recovery, particularly impoverished Filipinos who are vulnerable to the pandemic's economic effects.

“Hindi pwedeng may maiwan sa ating muling pagbangon. Lalo na ‘yung pinaka mahihirap at pinakanangangailangan,” said Go.

According to the Department of Social Welfare and Development, approximately only 16% of the 4.17 million active 4Ps beneficiaries have been vaccinated, as of 29 October 2021. The agency is proposing to provide PhP3,000 post-vaccination health support to the beneficiaries in order to encourage them to get vaccinated. A PhP12.2 billion budget is needed to implement the program.

“Hindi katanggap tanggap na 16% lang ang bakunado na 4Ps. Bagama’t di natin sila mapilit, ‘wag tayong tumigil sa pag-enganyo sa kanila,” said Go.

“Sa dagdag ayuda bilang insentibo, matulungan na natin sila sa kabuhayan, makapagligtas pa ng buhay, mapabilis ang pagbalik sa normal na pamumuhay,” he added.

Meanwhile, Go 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 to the proposed ‘no vaccine, no subsidy’ policy, saying that it is unfair and that 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.

"Tandaan natin na kung mas maraming nababakunahan at patuloy na bababa ang kaso ng nagkakasakit, mas luluwag ang mga patakaran at mas magbubukas ang ekonomiya. Sana ay tuluy-tuloy na mawawala ang COVID-19, kasama ang hirap at gutom na dulot nito, tungo sa mas komportable at maginhawang buhay. Magmalasakit at magbayanihan po tayo para walang mapabayaan na kapwa nating Pilipino!" he concluded. (OSBG)