Senators back 3-day vaccination drive vs. COVID-19

At least three senators on Tuesday expressed support to the government’s plan to conduct a three-day national vaccination drive.

“Late is never too late as long as it is for the greater good of the Filipino people. A three-day national vaccination drive is a welcome development, para tuluyan na nating maabot ang herd immunity at sana lagpas pa roon (for the country to reach herd immunity and hopefully more),” Senator Panfilo Lacson in a text message to reporters.

While there are “mistakes” during the early implementation of the vaccination program, Lacson said what’s important is that the government “makes up and makes good while it is not too late.”

Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto also backed the three-day vaccination drive, tagging this as part of government’s effort to vaccinate at least 50 million Filipinos before the year ends.

Senator Aquilino Pimentel III likewise said that any government activities promoting vaccination are always a welcome development, adding that the state should pursue the “vaccination of the willing.”

Last week, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. disclosed that the government is eyeing a three-day national vaccination drive as the huge bulk of vaccine supplies have already arrived in the country.

Pimentel also pushed for providing and not “subtracting” benefits to those who are willing to get the COVID-19 vaccines.

“Let the people, vaccinated or not, continue to receive the benefits being given to them even before the pandemic. No to subtraction, yes to addition,” he said.

Several senators have opposed the Department of the Interior and Local Government’s (DILG) proposal to impose a “no vaccine, no subsidy” policy for beneficiaries of the government’s conditional cash transfer or Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).

Senator Imee Marcos, who is set to defend the budget of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the implementor of the 4Ps program, said she already warned the agency of possible repercussions if they will push for DILG’s proposal.

“Siguradong ‘di papayag ang mga senador sa ‘no vax, no ayuda’ at ito’y makakaantala ng pagpasa ng kanilang [budget]. Nu’ng unang binalita 'yang polisiyang ‘yan, [agad-agad] kong pinaabot sa DSWD na hindi makakalusot sa Senado ‘yang [budget] nila dahil d’yan, kahit magtambling pa ako sa katatanggol sa kanila,” she said in a text message.

(I am sure that the senators won’t agree with the “no vax, no subsidy” policy and that could affect the agencies’ budgets. When that was reported in the news, I immediately called DSWD and I told them that their budget won’t be approved in the Senate even if I do my best to pass it, once they push for that.)

The Senate’s plenary debates on the proposed P5-trillion General Appropriations Bill is expected to start this week.—AOL, GMA News