Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque III said local government units (LGUs) may pass an ordinance about mandatory coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccination.

“Iyong usapin ng mandatory vaccination, alam po ninyo ang mga LGUs, mayroon na po silang kapangyarihan sa ilalim ng Local Government Autonomy Act of 1992, at doon puwede na sila magpasa ng kani-kanilang mga ordinansa (With regards to the issue of mandatory vaccination, LGUs have an authority under the Local Government Autonomy Act of 1992----wherein they can pass their respective ordinances),” said Duque on Friday, Nov. 9.

“Kung ang tingin nila ang polisiya ng mandatory vaccination ay katanggap-tanggap sa kanilang mga constituents ay ‘di puwede nilang gawin iyon. Nasa kapangyarihan po nila iyan habang wala naman po tayong national law on mandatory vaccination (If they think that the mandatory vaccination policy is acceptable to their constituents, they may do that. That is within their power --while we have no national law on mandatory vaccination),” he added.

However, the Health chief said there are other ways that the LGUs can do to urge their constituents to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

Duque said this includes vaccine information campaigns, giving incentives, and accessibility in the vaccination centers, among others.

“Huwag po natin kalimutan ang pakiusap natin ay kahit na magpasa ng ordinansa ang mga pamahalaang lokal, mayroon pa ring mga ibang pamamaraan para makumbinsi natin ang mga ayaw magpabakuna na magpabakuna (Even if the local government units pass an ordinance, there are still other ways to convince people to get vaccinated),” he said.

“Hanggang sa maaari ayaw natin iyong sapilitan o iyong isasabatas pa (As much as possible, we don't want to force the public),” he added.