Duterte tells governors: Feed those getting vaxxed, bill me

President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday asked local government units (LGUs) to provide meals to their constituents who will get vaccinated against COVID-19,  pledging to pay for the bill.

“I am authorizing all governors and mayors gumastos na lang kayo ng pera papalitan ko lang ‘yan balang araw. Pakainin ninyo na lang sila. Pakainin ka . . . gutom ka, kawawa naman yung Pilipino. Really, you just give me the bill and I will try to pay it if I have the money,” Duterte said in his weekly Talk to the People briefing late Tuesday.

(I am authorizing all governors and mayors to spend money, I will just pay one day. Just feed them. Feed those who are hungry. Really, you just give me the bill and I will try to pay it if I have the money.)

“I also appeal to all governors and mayors dalhin ninyo ang mga constituents ninyo sa vaccination sites sa mga hospitals, malls at maging sa mga Jollibee at McDonalds branches para mabakunahan na sila," he added.

(Take your constituents to vaccination sites in hospitals, malls, and even to Jollibee and McDonalds branches so that they can be vaccinated.)

The government will hold a nationwide three-day vaccination event from November 29 to December 1 to ramp up its inoculation efforts.

Duterte said the government aims to reach its target of 15 million individuals getting the dose during the national drive.

He directed all concerned government agencies and law enforcement units to extend all possible efforts and use all resources to bring the people to the vaccination sites.

“I urged all national government agencies as well as provincial and local government units to use all available resources, especially human resources to help in vaccination efforts during these three days of vaccination day,” Duterte said.

“I also call upon the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), and all enforcement agencies to assist in vaccination and mobilization resources to help bring our people to the vaccination sites,” he added.

Duterte reiterated that employers have the right to refuse applicants who are not vaccinated to protect their property and business.

“Kung ikaw gusto ng trabaho tapos ayaw mo magpabakuna hindi obligado ang employer na tanggapin ka," he said.

(If you want the job yet you don't want to get vaccinated, the employer has no obligation to accept you.)

He added he respects those citing religion not get the jab, but stressed that when it comes to accepting job applicants, the employer also has the right to protect his employees and his business.

Duterte said that he also wants unvaccinated people to be banned from entering restaurants and establishments, saying that they can “contaminate” other people.

“I support itong mga restaurants and all na delikado sa contamination sa public, you have my support, 'wag mo silang pakainin,” he said.

(I support these restaurants and all that they are at risk of contamination in public, you have my support, don't feed them.)

“Sabihan mo sila na kung ayaw ninyo magpabakuna at hindi kayo tinanggap sa ibang restaurant, doon na lang kayo sa tabing-dagat marami dyan kasi yung germs ninyo lumilipad yan,” he added.

(If you do not want to get vaccinated and you are not accepted in a restaurant, you just go there near the beach, there are many, because there germs fly.)

Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. earlier said that he was in favor of mandatory vaccination against COVID-19, proposing that the president can issue an executive order to implement it.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) earlier said that it was looking at how it could  implement a “no vaccine, no subsidy” policy for unvaccinated beneficiaries of the conditional cash transfer or Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).

The country officially rolled out its vaccination program on March 1.—LDF, GMA News