Mayor Olivarez says issuance of vaccine pass for indoor establishment visitors 'unfair'


Paranaque City Mayor and Metro Manila Council Chairman (MMC) Edwin Olivarez said it is “unfair” to implement a vaccine pass system in indoor dining and business establishments since the vaccine supply in the country is still insufficient.

In this photo taken on September 2, 2020, customers wearing face shields prepare to eat inside a mall in Manila. (Photo by Ted ALJIBE / AFP / MANILA BULLETIN)

“Yung pagbibigay ng vaccine pass, it would be unfair sa mga di pa po nava-vaccinate dahil di pa po supisyente ang ating vaccine (The issuance of a vaccine pass would be unfair to those who have yet to receive the vaccine because our vaccine supply isn’t sufficient yet),” Olivarez told DZMM in an interview on Friday.

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez, in a statement sent to ABS CBN, said the vaccine pass system has been discussed with the restaurant group and is currently “being studied as to the timing and protocol.”

Olivarez said other establishments are pushing for an incentive system instead to encourage others to get vaccinated.

The MMC chair said the incentives could be in the form of free desserts or other items.

Olivarez, meanwhile, said Parañaque plans to vaccinate its economic frontliners by June if the city's vaccine supply becomes sufficient.