Año clarifies 4Ps vaccination proposal: Magpa-vaccine ka, tapos bigay namin ayuda

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año on Monday night clarified the controversial proposal of "no vaccine, no ayuda" for Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries.

Over the weekend, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) disclosed it was looking at how it can implement a “no vaccine, no subsidy” policy for unvaccinated beneficiaries of the conditional cash transfer program.

“'Di naman natin sasabihin na no ayuda. Baka puwedeng magpa-vaccine ka tapos bigay namin 'yung ayuda sa 'yo kaagad. Gano'n lang. 'Di naman 'yung talagang in total na no vaccine no ayuda,” Año told reporters at the Villamor Airbase in Pasay City.

(We are not saying there will be no cash assistance. Maybe you can first have the vaccine, then we will give you the cash assistance immediately. That's how it will be. We are not saying that there will totally be no cash assistance without the vaccine.)

The DILG secretary was at the air base with President Rodrigo Duterte and vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. to welcome the arrival of 2.8 million doses of Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine.

Vice President Leni Robredo and some lawmakers expressed opposition to the proposal. 

However, Año and Galvez said they will push for the approval of the proposal because it will be for the protection of 4Ps beneficiaries who will be greatly affected should they contract severe COVID-19.

Año said they will leave it up to the Department of Justice (DOJ) to address the legalities of the proposal.

The DOJ on Monday however warned of legal challenges and adverse political repercussions over a "no vaccine, no subsidy" policy for unvaccinated 4Ps beneficiaries. DOJ Secretary Menardo Guevarra also said that under the COVID-19 Vaccination Program Act of 2021, vaccination cards must not be a requirement for government transactions.

Malacañang said Monday that mandating COVID-19 vaccination for 4Ps  beneficiaries would need an amendment to an existing law. The Commission on Human Rights also said a law is needed.

Galvez on the other hand said that after the "no vaccine, no ayuda" proposal was reported, one city had a sudden increase in the number of those vaccinated against COVID-19.

“Gusto naman ng tao actually [na magpabakuna]. Ang ano lang, kulang lang sa motivation eh. We will use the 4Ps as incentive. 'Di siya disincentivize,” Galvez said.

(People actually want [to get vaccinated against COVID-19]. There is just a lack of motivation. We will use the 4Ps as incentive. It is not to disincentivize.)

The DILG said Monday that its “no vaccine, no subsidy” proposal stemmed from the demand of the mayors to help boost the vaccination drive in their own areas, noting that only 12% of 4Ps households have been inoculated against COVID-19. —Jonathan Andal/KG, GMA News