‘Just send me the bill’: Duterte tells local execs to feed vaccinees during nat’l vaccination drive

President Duterte said he is authorizing all local executives—mayors and governors—to “spend money” in order to feed vaccinees at the fast food joints that will be participating in the upcoming three-day national vaccination drive.

He said this is another way to help convince Filipinos to get their coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccines.

“'Yung namang pupunta sa Jollibee saka sa McDonald's tapos parang gutumin, walang pera, tapos maamoy niya 'yang karne diyan (Those who are going to Jollibee and McDonald's who will get hungry, they have no money, then they will smell the meat there), I am authorizing all governors and mayors, gumastos na lang kayo ng pera, papalitan ko lang 'yan balang araw, pakainin na lang sila (spend money, I will give it back to you one day, just feed them),” he said on late Tuesday night, Nov. 23 during his pre-recorded "Talk to the People" public briefing.

The national vaccination drive will take place from Nov. 29 to Dec. 1, 2021. The government's aim is to vaccinate 15 million people from outside Metro Manila during those three days.

“I have directed all government agencies and instrumentalities to extend all possible support for this 'Bayanihan, Bakunahan' program,” he said.

READ: Nograles explains why gov't would rather declare most of three-day vaccination drive as special working days

“I urge all NGAs (national government agencies), as well as provincial and LGUs (local government units) to use all available resources, especially human resources to help in the vaccination efforts during this three-day vaccination,” Duterte added.

He appealed to governors and mayors to bring their constituents to vaccination sites in hospitals and malls.

The President said local executives are used to hauling huge numbers of people to events, anyway.

“Kung maaari pakainin ninyo, tutal one-time lang naman 'yan, para sa bayan. Gawain mo para sa bayan (If possible, just feed them, anyway it’s a one-time thing for the country. Do it for the country),” he stressed.

The Chief Executive thanked the private sector—including fast-food chains and private hospitals--for “providing all the help” in the preparations for the three-day vaccination campaign.