Senators do not find anything wrong with giving incentives to encourage people to get vaccinated against the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
This, as Las Piñas City Representative Camille Villar -- daughter of Senator Cynthia Villar -- announced that she will raffle off a house and lot and other prizes for inoculated residents of the city.
Senator Panfilo Lacson said the government, as well as the private sector, "should use all legal -- and creative -- means possible" to address the public's reluctance to get jabbed.
"A chance at winning in the lottery and other creative incentives to attract more Filipinos to get themselves vaccinated - these are good moves by the government, both national and local, and even the private sector, to attain herd immunity at the soonest possible time," Lacson said in a statement on Friday, May 28.
"This is not only for our people's healthy well-being, but also for making our economy vibrant again- and ultimately get our pre-pandemic normal lives back again," he added.
Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto also agreed that it was a "good idea", saying such initiatives are already being done in many countries.
Senate President Vicente Sotto also said: "If they think it will encourage people to get vaccinated, its their form of invitation, let them."
Sotto also reiterated the importance of an aggressive information campaign to boost vaccine confidence. All sectors, most especially the Department of Health, should implement this, he said.
For Sen. Francis Tolentino, Villar was not violating any laws.
"Different approaches to raise level of awareness as to the importance of vaccination is permissible. Besides, no got funds was involved," he said.
The Philippines' vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said vaccine hesitancy was high among members of poor communities, particularly in congested areas. Those in well-off classes A, B, C saw a "high uptake" on COVID-19 vaccine.
The government has so far been vaccinating medical workers, senior citizens and persons with comorbidities. Over 4 million vaccine doses have been administered in the country.