Lacson slams DILG’S ‘no vaccine, no aid’ proposal

Presidential candidate Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson slams a proposal to deny government assistance to people who refuse to be vaccinated.

In a statement, the standard bearer of Partido Reporma questioned if withholding the assistance to poor families was the best way for the government to convince people to get the jab done.

“While we agree that all Filipinos should get the jab done, is withholding much-needed aid for poor families the best way for the government to get its job done?” the standard bearer of Partido Reporma said in a statement.

Lacson said that with the current supply of vaccines, it is not even possible for every citizen to be vaccinated.

“Thus it might be more prudent for the Department of Interior and Local Government and the relevant authorities concerned to consider an incentivized approach to vaccination, rather than a blanket ‘no vaccine, no aid’ policy,” he said.

On Saturday, DILG spokesperson Jonathan Malaya said the government is considering to exclude 4Ps beneficiaries from receiving subsidies if they refuse to get a COVID-19 jab.

In earlier interviews, Lacson has already pointed out that incentive, not fear, is the best way to encourage people to get the jab. “‘Yung fully vaccinated, bigyan mo ng konting ginhawa compared dun sa ayaw. Pero first and foremost, kailangan available ‘yung bakuna.”