DAVAO City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio warned Dabawenyos against individuals offering vaccination slots and asking payments in return.
"Warning sa tanang kaigsuonang Dabawenyo na kung naay panghitabo na muduol sa inyuha na mangayo ug kwarta para matagaan mo ug bakuna o matagaan mo slot sa bakuna or ma-prioritize mo sa pila sa bakuna, dili na siya tinuod (I am warning my fellow Dabawenyos that when someone approaches you, asking money for them to get the vaccine or a slot for them to be prioritized in the vaccination, that is not true)," Duterte-Carpio said in an interview on 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio Monday, June 28.
The mayor said they received a complaint from an employee of an undisclosed company who was about to get vaccinated at Magallanes Elementary School last week.
According to the complainant, they were charged P350 per individual by a personnel from Magallanes since they went to the site despite not being scheduled for vaccination.
The fee was allegedly used for a medical certificate for them to be accommodated.
The complainant said the company gave them money to cover the fee but it will be deducted from their salary.
Duterte-Carpio said the city does not charge any amount to those who will get their vaccination.
"Walay ing-ana, walay kinahanglan nga i-present na medical certificate para ma-prioritize ka sa pila sa bakuna (There is no such thing as that. There is no need to present a medical certificate for them to be prioritized in the vaccination)," she said.
Duterte-Carpio also warned of groups roaming from house-to-house to collect money for vaccination.
"So do not give money to anybody para sa inyong pagpabakuna (for you to be vaccinated)," she said.
The mayor urged Dabawenyos to report to the nearest police station for immediate action.
Individuals who want to get the Covid-19 vaccine must register and wait for their schedule.
Davao City Covid-19 Vaccine Cluster head Dr. Josephine Villafuerte told SunStar Davao in a text message that she did not receive any complaints regarding the matter.
Villafuerte also said that getting the vaccine is free of charge.
Currently, the registration can be done by visiting their nearest district health offices, or register through the Safe Davao QR (DQR) Code on web and app.
The city is vaccinating Priority A1 group or workers in frontline health services, A2 or senior citizens, A3 (persons with comorbidities), and A5 (indigent population. This is in accordance with the National Vaccine Deployment for Covid-19 of the Department of Health.
Davao City is targeting to immunize an estimated 1.2 million Dabawenyos before the end of 2021.