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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'No vax, no 4Ps subsidy' policy is 'valid' but law must be amended, says Roque

'No vax, no 4Ps subsidy' policy is 'valid' but law must be amended, says Roque

Published Nov 8, 2021 01:59 pm

Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said that requiring beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) to get vaccinated against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) first before receiving subsidies is reasonable but said the law may be amended before this can happen.

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Roque made the statement after Interior Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said in a radio interview that the government was looking at excluding 4Ps beneficiaries from receiving subsidies if they do not get vaccinated against COVID-19.

In his press briefing on Monday, November 8, Roque thinks that the said recommendation is a valid one.

"Sa tingin ko naman po, isang balidong dahilan na i-require ang vaccination kapalit ng pagtatanggap po ng 4Ps benefits (I think it is a valid reason to require vaccination in exchange of the benefits they will be getting from the 4Ps)," he said.

"Tingin ko po ay pupwede naman pong i-require 'yan (I think this can be a requirement)," he added.

However, the Palace official said that Republic Act (RA) 11310 or the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) Act should be amended first for this requirement to take effect.

"Baka kinakailangan amendahan po ang batas. Kasi ang batas ang nagsasabi kung sino ang entitled sa 4Ps (I think we may have to amend the law first because the law is the one stating who's entitled to the 4Ps)," Roque said.

"Hindi lang po ito isang executive program, ito po ay naisabatas ng Kongerso sa pamamagitan ng RA 11310. So meron naman pong probisyon doon kung paano magkakaroon ng pag-amenda ang batas (This is not just an executive program, this is a law passed by Congress through RA 11310. There is a provision there that states how to amend the law)," he added.

Until amendments are made, Roque said the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) can study Malaya's proposal to strip unvaccinated 4Ps beneficiaries of their subsidies under the said anti-poverty program.

"That is a suggestion na dapat pong pag-aralan pa ng DSWD dahil ang DSWD naman po ay, sang-ayon sa batas, ang implementing agency ng 4Ps (that the DSWD has to study because it is the implementing agency of the 4Ps)," he said.

According to Malaya, there are more than 4 million 4Ps beneficiaries who have yet to be vaccinated against COVID-19 with some even refusing to take the shot.

"The 4Ps is called a conditional transfer because before you can get your regular subsidy from the government, you have to meet certain conditions," he said over Super Radyo DZBB.

"If they will not get vaccinated, they will not receive any 4Ps subsidy from the government," he added.

As of November 7, a total of 64,195,936 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered in the country with 29,477,961 individuals nationwide being fully vaccinated.

Related Tags

Harry Roque covid-19 vaccination cash subsidy vaccination requirement 4Ps
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