CEBU CITY — The “no vaccination, no dine-in policy” here will continue even after the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG)’s announcement that it will look into the policy.
City Joel Garganera, chief of the city’s Emergency Operations, said the city is open to any investigation that the DILG will conduct as announced by Interior Secretary Eduard Ano.
Garganera said the city is hoping that local government units (LGUs) will be given the authority to craft policies amidst the current COVID-19 pandemic.
Garganera pointed out that the LGUs need to strike a balance between protecting the constituents from the deadly virus and keeping the livelihood afloat.
“One thing’s for sure, the government cannot continually provide if we continuously impose the lockdown strategy. We cannot forever sustain that,” said Garganera.
Garganera emphasized that the “no vaccination, no dine-in policy” is not just a policy created by the city but was also a product of a consultation from various sectors especially the business industry.
Garganera said the city cannot be faulted for crafting the policy which has not drawn adverse public reaction since it was implemented.
The city has taken actions to ensure that the policy will not be abused as fake vaccination cards may be used to avail of the privilege given to vaccinated individuals, said Garganera.
Major Gen. Albert Ignatius Ferro, director of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, has assured that needed assistance will be provided to the city to help prevent the proliferation of fake vaccination cards.
Garganera said the policy is not a form of discrimination and that it meant to boost the government’s vaccination campaign.