MALACAÑANG on Monday, August 2, 2021, said it is not yet the right time to impose restrictions on unvaccinated individuals considering the limited supply of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccines.
“Ang IATF (Inter Agency Task Force) ay nagpatupad ng rule na kapag kayo ay magpapatupad ng mas striktong restrictions sasagutin n’yo po ang consequence n’yan. Baka hindi makakatanggap ng ayuda (ang unvaccinated)... Siguro LGUs (local government units) ang kailangan magbigay ng ayuda, ‘yung LGU ang maghatid ng mga groceries dahil (sa kanila) dahil hindi naman pwede na hindi sila makapamili ng kanilang pang araw-araw na pangangailangan,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said in a televised press briefing.
Roque was reacting to the executive order issued by Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard Chan, which provides that only vaccinated persons will be allowed to enter public and private markets including department stores, supermarkets, grocery stores and convenience stores in the city beginning August 25.
Roque said they commend Chan’s innovation, but the LGU should wait until at least 50 percent of the population is vaccinated and there are already enough vaccines for everyone.
“I commend the mayor of Lapu-Lapu for this innovation pero siguro po hindi pa napapanahon kasi ‘yung ganyang mga restriction ay pinapatupad ng mga bansang France at ilang parte ng US kasi nakabakuna na sila ng more than 50 percent of their populationsat kumbaga walang dahilan na hindi magpabakuna ang mga hindi bakunado dahil meron silang bakuna doon,” said Roque.
“While we commend that innovation, siguro hintayin muna natin na at least 50 percent ng ating population mabakunahan,” he added.
As of August 1, a total of 9,115,963 people have been fully vaccinated in the country out of 11,747,581 who have received their first dose.
The Philippines has received over 32 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines as of August 2. (SunStar Philippines)