Hontiveros opposes making COVID-19 vaccination a must for 4Ps cash aid beneficiaries

Senator Risa Hontiveros on Wednesday hit presidential spokesperson Harry Roque’s idea requiring 4Ps beneficiaries to get COVID-19 vaccines before they can receive their financial aid.

“Hindi dapat binubully ang publiko para magpabakuna. Kaunting galang at respeto naman sa mga mahihirap. Walang kundisyon sa 4Ps law na kailangan vaccinated ang recipients,” Hontiveros said in a statement Wednesday.

(Bullying the public should not be an option in encouraging them to get vaccinated. We should give the poor respect. Under the 4Ps law, there is no condition that the recipients should be vaccinated.)

She explained that the government must provide incentives to those who will get COVID-19 vaccines instead of conditions.

“Hindi dapat ginagawang suhol ang mga bakunang dapat naman talaga ay libre at pangmalawakan. Hindi dapat pinagbabantaan ang madla,” she said.

(We should not use vaccines as bribes because this should be free and should be accessible for all. The public should not be threatened.)

“Imbis na pananakot, incentives ang dapat na ialok sa publiko para sila ay magpapabakuna. Tulad halimbawa ng grocery packs o kaya naman ay paid vacation leave,” she further suggested. 

(Instead of threats, the government should offer incentives such as grocery packs or paid vacation leaves.)

In a pre-recorded public address aired Tuesday morning, Roque suggested to President Rodrigo Duterte the possibility of making COVID-19 vaccination a pre-requisite before the 4Ps beneficiaries could receive their aid.

“Ang daming nakikinabang sa programa na ‘yan at kapag naisama sa condition na ‘yan ay maraming mababakunahan lalung lalo na sa hanay ng mga mahihirap,” Roque said.

(A lot of people are benefitting from that program and if we include vaccines as a condition then we can inoculate more people especially in the vulnerable sector.)

He also said that this could also be applied to future financial assistance or "ayuda" during lockdowns that the government might distribute. —KG, GMA News