SENATOR Grace Poe has reiterated that the proposed vaccine passports should be free for all Filipinos.

"Talagang dapat libre ito. Sa batas namin libre ito," said Poe.

Section 10 of Poe's proposed "Vaccine Passport Act" (S. No. 1994) states no fees shall be collected for the issuance, amendment, or replacement of a vaccine passport. The bill remains pending in the Senate Committee on Health and Demography.

"Cost should not be a consideration in restoring normalcy and providing peace of mind to Filipinos," said Poe in the bill's explanatory note.

Poe also noted that the Department of Health (DOH) fully supported the rollout of a vaccine passport even without the enactment of a law from Congress.

"Nung kami'y nagkaroon ng pagdinig kasama si (DOH) Secretary Duque, sabi naman niya na gagawin nila iyon kahit walang batas, na dapat meron daw pruweba para masabi kung anong dosage ang naibigay sayo, anong klaseng bakuna," noted Poe.

Poe stated that the timely issuance of the vaccine passports would be important to restore safety, confidence and peace of mind among Filipinos.

"Alam naman natin na maraming mga establisyemento at mga kumpanya ay nag-iipon na para mabakunahan ang kanilang mga empleyado. Mahalaga ito sa iba't-ibang uri ng negosyo para alam natin na ligtas tayo na pumunta sa isang restaurant. O kundi sa food facility na nag-hahandle ng pagkain, gusto natin na ligtas ang ating pakiramdam, at syempre para mangyari ito, kailangan ligtas rin ang ating mga empleyado," said Poe. (Sponsored Content)