THE committees on health and education, of the Cagayan de Oro City Council, are initiating hearings on the possibility of enforcing "No Vaccine, No Enrolment" policy in the local level.
In her report on Monday, March 4, City Councilor Ma. Lourdes Gaane said that the 80 measles cases and five casualties recorded in the city level might still increase in the coming months, prompting a pre-emptive measure by not admitting schoolchildren in public schools if they are not vaccinated first.
"It might persist until June this year since it is expected to rise during dry season," she said.
Gaane noted that vaccine hesitancy is still the most pressing health threat for 2019, according to the World Health Organization.
"This is why we need to do something before the situation gets unmanageable," she added.
She said while there are still legal issues on the "No vaccine, No enrolment" proposal, "it is important to expedite our actions because our children are getting affected everyday."
Divided
Councilors Teodulfo Lao Jr. said this is a violation of human rights, while Councilor Suzette Magtajas-Daba thinks the policy is quite harsh.
"I strongly disagree. They should study before they make the declaration because education is everybody's right. Nobody should be deprived of education," Lao said.
"Bisan wala pa sila kadawat ug (even the children have not received a) vaccine, they should still be able to study since education is a fundamental right of everyone," Lao said.
Magtajas-Daba said that as much as possible, "we should not put barriers in the education of children," instead they should be encouraged.
"It seems a bit harsh, giving conditions before getting an education," she said.
Meanwhile, Councilors Edna Dahino and Reuben Daba for their part supported the idea.
"I strongly agree, there are times that we need to enforce harsh strategies for us to really make things happen. However, hingusgan gihapon ang pag encourage sa parents," Dahino added.