A group of medical doctors and private citizens called out the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) in its recent move to reduce the mobility of people who are unvaccinated against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
In a statement the Concerned Doctors and Citizens of the Philippines (CDC Ph) expressed its "vehement opposition" against Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Resolution No. 22-01 imposing enhanced restrictions on unvaccinated individuals.
The group called the resolution, "unconstitutional" and "particularly oppressive" to the most vulnerable sectors of Philippine society.
“This resolution flat out ignores the constitutionally-protected right of every Filipino to make independent, informed decisions that massively impacts their health and the well-being of their loved ones,” said Dr. Homer Lim, President of CDC Ph said.
Meanwhile, Mari Kaimo, CDC Ph Vice-President, criticized a provision in the MMDA resolution that requires the unvaccinated, “to undergo a Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT PCR) test every 2 weeks at their personal expense and present a COVID-19 negative result prior to being admitted for work onsite.”
“The costs of RT-PCR tests run in the thousands of pesos, and given the salary scales in the Philippines, a vast majority of unvaccinated workers cannot afford to shoulder additional expenses of this magnitude,” Kaimo said.