Bong Go

Bong Go: Provide more incentives, allow greater mobility for fully jabbed individuals

September 10, 2021 People's Tonight 1151 views

SENATOR and Chair of the Senate Committee on Health Christopher “Bong” Go reiterated his appeal to government authorities to study the possibility of providing incentives to fully vaccinated individuals in order to encourage more Filipinos, especially those still hesitant, to get their COVID-19 shots.

As the vaccines become more available, Go called on the government and private sector to come up with unique and innovative ways to incentivize people to help the country achieve population protection leading to herd immunity at the soonest possible time.

“Pag-aralan dapat natin nang mabuti ang pagbibigay ng insentibo sa mga bakunado, tulad ng mas maluwag na mga patakaran. Maaaring pwede sila kumain at pumasyal sa labas, makapagtrabaho at makagalaw nang walang restrictions para ma-enganyo at tumaas ang vaccine confidence,” suggested Go.

“Sa ibang bansa nga, pwede nang manood ang mga bakunado ng basketball, katulad sa ginagawa sa NBA sa US. Kung mas marami na ang nababakunahan, mas magiging normal na ang ating pamumuhay,” the Senator further explained.

Go also expressed support to the proposal of the mayors in the National Capital Region to relax some of the COVID-19 guidelines for fully vaccinated individuals.

On Thursday, September 9, the Metro Manila Council of the Metro Manila Development Authority issued an appeal urging the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases to ease the COVID-19 Guidelines for those fully vaccinated subject to further study and consultation.

Support for a similar initiative has also been provided by Socioeconomic Planning Secretary and National Economic and Development Authority head Karl Chua who, during a Senate hearing on the same day, expressed support for the “Bakuna Bubble” pilot in NCR.

From March 22 to April 4, the government, through the IATF, had put up a bubble in Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal. Authorized individuals were permitted to travel into and out of certain places under this arrangement. While more limitations were in place to manage mobility in these areas, most businesses continued to operate.

“Malaki parte ng ating ekonomiya ang National Capital Region. Kung ma-relax natin konti ang mga travel restrictions at ibang protocols para sa bakunado na, inaasahan natin na mas maraming sektor ng ekonomiya ang mabubuksan. Mas maraming mga kababayan natin ang makapaghanapbuhay muli at makabalik sa kani-kanilang mga trabaho. Ibig sabihin, mas maraming pamilya ang makabangon mula sa hirap na dulot ng pandemya,” Go explained.

“Subalit dahan-dahan nating gawin ito. Huwag nating biglaing buksan lahat kaagad, baka naman tumaas ang bilang ng mga kaso at mahihirapan na naman ang ating healthcare system. Ayaw nating mag-back to zero na naman tayo. Kaya maingat lang dapat nating balansehin ang buhay at kabuhayan ng mga Pilipino,” Go cautioned.

The Senator also expressed his appreciation to various private business entities for coming with creative incentive schemes, such as discounts and provision of freebies, for fully vaccinated individuals.

“Maraming salamat sa mga pribadong kumpanya sa mga pa-discounts at freebies ninyo para sa bakunadong kababayan natin. Malaking bagay ito para ma-engganyo natin ang mas maraming Pilipino ang magpabakuna,” Go said.

Also, Go earlier expressed support for the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines’ request to expand their vaccination rollout.

In a letter addressed to the National Task Force on COVID-19, ULAP, led by Quirino Governor and ULAP President Dakila Cua, recommended that local government units be allowed to extend the vaccines to their constituents without being limited by the prioritization scheme while maintaining the prioritization of selected groups to reduce morbidity and mortality and protect those who bear significant risks.

“Nabasa ko rin po ang sulat ng ating mga governors, requesting na buksan po ‘yung pagbabakuna sa general public dahil marami naman po ang mga gustong magpabakuna sa ngayon,” he said.

“And, I am sure, binabalanse po ng ating national task force, ng IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases)”, and ‘yung NITAG (National Immunization Technical Advisory Group), sila po ang mag-aapruba nito,” he added, also noting that vaccine confidence in the country has improved.

Meanwhile, Go reiterated his appeal for qualified and unvaccinated Filipinos to get their respective COVID-19 shots. He pointed out that studies show fully vaccinated individuals have a hugely decreased risk of infection and developing severe illness from COVID-19 and thus should be allowed to engage in select pre-pandemic activities for as long as basic health protocols are still followed, like wearing of mask and face shield and observing social distancing.

The country has so far administered nearly 37.2 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines, as of September 8. Out of these, 21.3 million individuals have received their first dose, while another 15.8 million have received their second dose of the vaccines.

“Sa ngayon po, naging maganda po ang vaccine confidence na tumataas na. Kahit na noong umiikot ako, tinatanong ko sila noong unang panahon 10% lang po ang nagtataas ng kamay, ngayon po halos kalahati na po dahil nakikita nila na protektado sila sa bakuna, lalong-lalo na po ngayon na merong Delta variant na napakabilis ng transmission four times more contagious po ito,” Go noted.

“Ito pong bubble system, mas magiging successful ito kapag mas marami na ang bakunado. Kaya katulad ng pakiusap ko sa mga kapwa ko Pilipino, kung eligible na kayo, ‘wag kayo matakot at magpabakuna na kayo. Mas maraming bakunado, mas ligtas ang ating mga pamilya at komunidad,” he explained.

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