Malacañang said the leaders of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) will really have to do more to convince their constituents to get vaccinated against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles made the statement after President Duterte claimed that many Muslims in Mindanao are resisting getting vaccinated against COVID-19 because of either their religion or their culture.
Data from the National COVID-19 Vaccination Dashboard showed that as of January 24, only 475,636 individuals from the BARMM are fully vaccinated.
In an interview with CNN Philippines, Nograles said that the slow vaccination rate in the BARMM was the reason why President Duterte mentioned this in his Talk to the People on Monday evening.
He added that the influence of the local leaders is important in resolving this matter.
"They really have to set an example to their constituents," Nograles told "The Source" on Wednesday morning, January 26.
"They really have to drive the demand and really push for a more and increased vaccination in the BARMM area," he added.
According to the acting Palace spokesman, local leaders have to stress that aside from the COVID-19 vaccines being Halal-certified, they are also being used in predominantly Muslim countries.
He said if Muslim countries can vaccinate their population, the same can be achieved in the Philippines.
"We're not having any problems in terms of vaccinating in, say, countries like our neighbors in Indonesia and Malaysia," Nograles said.
"We see no reason why it could not happen in the BARMM area but it really takes a lot of push and drive from the local leaders there," he added.