Malacañang denied reports that people who have not yet received their vaccine against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) will not be able to get the promised ayuda or cash assistance for Metro Manila's shift to the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).
Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque made the statement after people flocked to different vaccination sites in the National Capital Region (NCR) in fear that they may not receive the cash aid or may not even be allowed to leave their homes during the two-week ECQ.
In his press briefing on Thursday, August 5, Roque said there was no truth to the rumors that the movement of the unvaccinated people would be limited nor would they be stripped of their cash aid privileges.
"Wala pa po tayong kahit anong pagbabawal na ini-impose sa mga taong wala pang bakuna. Ang hinihingi natin, ngayong nandiyan na ang bakuna, magpabakuna na ang lahat (We have not imposed any restrictions for the unvaccinated. We want everyone to get the vaccine because the vaccines are already here)," he said.
"Walang ring katotohanan na ire-require natin ang bakuna para sa ayuda. Lahat po ng nangangailangan, mabibigyan ng ayuda, 'di kayo hahanapan ng proof of vaccination (There is also no truth that we will require vaccination in exchange for the cash aid. All those in need of the financial assistance won't be required to present proof of vaccination)," he added.
The Palace official did not believe that the public's fear could be traced back to President Duterte's earlier statement of not letting the unvaccinated out of their homes. He said some people probably just liked to watch the world burn.
He added fake news propagators should get COVID-19.
"Ang kumpirmado po eh meron talagang fake news na kumalat. As to whether or not sira ulo lang ito o deliberate para guluhin ang ating bayan, your guess is as good as mine. Pero I believe meron talagang loko-loko (What is confirmed was fake news circulated. As to whether or not that person was just crazy or it was deliberate to cause disorder in our country, your guess is as good as mine. But I believe there are people who are just crazy)," Roque said.
"Meron po talagang walang matinong ginagawa sa buhay nila. Ewan ko ba ho bakit hindi pa sila ma-COVID, no (There really are some people who can't do anything good with their lives. I don't know why they haven't caught COVID-19 yet)?
Metro Manila was placed under a two-week ECQ following the surge in COVID-19 cases and the alarming increase of individuals affected by the more contagious Delta variant.
Photos of people flocking to different vaccination sites in Metro Manila, particularly in the cities of Manila and Las Piñas, circulated on social media with some lining up Thursday dawn, the day before the region shifted to ECQ.
Manila Public Information chief Julius Leonen wrote in a Facebook post that people flocked to the vaccination sites after hearing reports that they will not be allowed to leave their homes during the ECQ if they were not vaccinated.