The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said Wednesday, Nov. 10, that it is currently studying a proposal seeking to provide an incentive to beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) who refused to get vaccinated against coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
DSWD Assistant Secretary Glenda Relova said they were looking at the possibility of granting an incentive to the unvaccinated 4Ps beneficiaries to encourage them to receive the COVID-19 vaccines.
“Pinag-aaralan din po ng departamento ang sinasabi nating ‘incentivize our beneficiaries or the public’. Isa sa pinag-aaralan yung prioritizatin nila sa pagbibigay ng livelihood program sa fully vaccinated individuals and groups po (The department is also studying what we say ‘incentivize our beneficiaries or the public’. One of the things being studied is the prioritization of granting livelihood program to fully vaccinated individuals and groups),” she said during the Laging Handa briefing on Wednesday.
She noted that of the 4.1 million active 4Ps beneficiaries, around 3.5 million have not been vaccinated against COVID-19 as of Nov. 5.
READ MORE: https://mb.com.ph/2021/11/10/dswd-3-5-million-4ps-beneficiaries-not-yet-vaccinated-vs-covid/
Relova said the DSWD conducted a survey among 11,700 Pantawid Pamilya families to gauge their sentiment on getting vaccinated against COVID.
She said they conducted a follow-up and there was an increase in the willingness of the 4Ps beneficiaries to receive the vaccines.
“More than 40 percent po ngayon na pumapayag na at halos 4.2 percent na lang po ang mayroong fear para sa ating pagbabakuna (More than 40 percent now agree and only about 4.2 percent have a fear of injections),” she said.
She said the number of 4Ps beneficiaries receiving the COVID-19 vaccines may increase if there will be nationwide vaccine rollout of the A5 priority sector, particularly in the far-flung areas.
The 4Ps beneficiaries belong to the A5 priority sector in the country’s inoculation program.
Relova said the DSWD will continue to intensify its information dissemination campaign on the benefits of the COVID-19 vaccination, and the distribution of information, education and communication materials continues to entice more beneficiaries to receive COVID jabs.
Presidential aspirant Vice President Leni Robredo said on Nov. 8, that instead of withholding the subsidy, the intended vaccine recipients should be given incentives, which may include the provision of gadgets or a Christmas gift for every vaccinated family.