THE Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) will give away 2,000 bicycles as incentive to fully vaccinated workers beginning July 1, 2021.
In a virtual press briefing, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said they are launching the "Baksikleta" program, which will distribute 1,000 bicycles in Metro Manila and another 1,000 units in the regions.
"If you get vaccinated with two doses, we will give you a bicycle unit. That is your reward once you show us proof of getting two doses," Bello said.
The bicycle will come with a utility bag and a cellphone with a P5,000 load.
"This is no ordinary bike as you can use this for a small business," said Bello.
He said the program aims to entice economic frontliners to avail themselves of the national government's vaccination program against coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
"This is an incentive for our workers, who are still hesitating in getting vaccinated. Hopefully, this will convince them to get vaccinated," he said.
The government launched on June 7 the vaccination of priority group A4, which consists of workers who must go out of their homes to work.
As of June 13, there have only been 152,964 workers who have been inoculated, including 7,021 who have received both doses. (HDT / SunStar Philippines)