Manila mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso said individuals who choose to get vaccinated against COVID-19 deserve an incentive from the government.
In an interview, Domagoso said it is unfair for the people who made an effort just to get vaccinated to not get any incentive from the government.
"Di ba unfair sa kanya 'yun? Yung taong pumila tapos bibigyan natin ng bonus 'yung tolongges? Bibigyan pa natin ng bonus 'yung matigas ang ulo. Maling gobyerno ata 'yun? Para sa akin ha, 'yun ang opinyon ko. Mali ang gagawin ng gobyerno kapag hinihikayat ng isang ahensya ng gobyerno na bigyan ng bonus 'yung matitigas ang ulo. Dapat bigyan ng bonus 'yung mga masusunurin, 'yung mga mabubuti (Isn't that unfair to him? The person who lined up and then we gave a bonus to those good-for-nothing persons? We will even give a bonus to the stubborn ones. Isn't that a wrong government? For me, that's my opinion. The government will do the wrong thing if a government agency encourages to give bonus to the stubborn. The obedient should be given a bonus, the good ones)," Domagoso said.
He noted some people even lined up as early as 4 a.m. in various vaccination centers just to get their jabs.
Domagoso added that good citizens should be the ones raised on the pedestal and should be given privileges.
He, meanwhile, maintained that the city government will not stop in reaching out to those who have not been vaccinated yet.
"Ang mabuting mamamayan ay sumusunod sa alituntunin, nagiging responsable sa sarili n'ya, nagiging responsable sa pamilya nya, nagiging responsable sa komunidad n'ya, 'yun ang isang pagiging mabuting mamamayan. At hindi ka makakapamuhay sa mundong ito ng para sa sarili lamang. Kailangan mo makipag-kapwa tao, kailangan mo makiisa, kailangan mo tumugon at kailangan mo umaksyon. So be responsible (A good citizen follows the rule, becomes responsible for himself, becomes responsible for his family, becomes responsible for his community, that's what being a good citizen is. And you cannot live in this world for yourself alone. You need to communicate with other people, you need to unite, you need to respond and you need to take action. So be responsible)," he said.
The Manila mayor also assured that he will continue to make vaccination and getting booster shots more accessible and readily available to both residents and non-residents in the city.
"We try to make the vaccine whether first dose, second dose, or booster available kung paano magiging convenient sa tao. May health center, sa eskwelahan, sa malls, sa ospital, sa drive-thru. So, nag-iisip pa kami ng ibang paraan paano mailapit sa tao ‘yung access to vaccines (how to make it convenient to the people. There is a health center, in school, in malls, in hospitals, in drive-thru. So, we are still thinking of other ways to bring people closer to access to the vaccine)," he said.
The city of Manila has recorded a total of 4,102 active cases, with 92, 995 recoveries and 1,792 deaths as of Friday, Jan. 14.