Noting how “technologically-heavy” the Makati City government’s vaccination program is, Senator Nancy Binay appealed to the local government unit led by her sister Mayor Abigail Binay to make COVID-19 vaccines accessible to low-income, non-tech savvy constituents who do not know how to register online.
Binay noted the city government imposes a 'no walk-in' policy' which could leave behind citizens who have no access to smartphones or laptops for their online registration.
“My concern is that it’s somewhat high-tech, the way she’s doing it. My fear is that only those who can afford and use technology can have access to the vacicne because they do not allow walk-ins,” Binay said in an interview on ANC’s Headstart.
“We know that we have citizens who have no laptop or smartphones where they can register...I’m sure they would not even know how to register and the process is not simple,” she stressed.
The senator said the Makati City government should consider allowing walk-ins in their vaccination program.
“That or set up more booths in the barangays where they can help those who can’t register online,” she said.
“Maybe that is an option, Makati can use, precisely because they do not accept walk-in here,” she stressed.
Citing the experience of Manila City government, Binay pointed out there was suddenly a low turnout of vaccines in Metro Manila because they disallowed walk-ins and imposed an online registration.
“Precisely because they do not know how to do the online registration. In order to reach out to the lower class, maybe the Makati citizens can resort to that (walk-in or help booths),” she reiterated.