Ex-VP Binay lauds President Duterte's decision to vaccinate economic frontliners
By Jel Santos
Former vice president Jejomar “Jojo” Binay, a staunch critic of the current administration, on Friday (May 21) commended Pres. Duterte’s decision to vaccinate economic frontliners.
“The President deserves to be commended. Tama lang na bakunahan agad ang economic frontliners para makabangon ang ating ekonomiya (It is right to immediately vaccinate economic frontliners in order for our economy to recover from the effects of the pandemic),” he said.
“But the Department of Health (DOH) admits we don’t have enough vaccines. We need 24 million additional doses and at the moment we do not have enough,” he added.
Binay said it is frustrating for businessmen and workers to hear that there is still no adequate supply of vaccine.
“But there is a solution: Let’s tap the private sector. Allow them to buy more vaccines for their employees. Let them vaccinate their people for free,” the former vice president suggested.
In addition, he said that the government can consider giving businesses tax breaks if they achieve 100 percent workforce immunization.
“And workers could be allowed to go on paid leaves to get vaccinated.”
Conducting information drives is very important to overcome vaccine hesitancy, said Binay.
“Government should also find ways to incentivize vaccination. It should look at all available means to achieve one goal: vaccinate as many workers in the fastest way possible,” he ended.
On May 18, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said that the government is targeting to inoculate economic frontliners and indigents simultaneously after the month of May.