DEPUTY Majority Leader and Iloilo 3rd District Rep. Lorenz Defensor still believes in the power of incentivization or giving incentives to Filipinos, whether it’s for administering boosters or primary dose of coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) vaccines.

Defensor had this to say during the Ugnayan sa Batasan Majority News Forum Tuesday at the House of Representatives wherein he was this week’s guest.

“I absolutely agree that we should incentivize [boosters]. Our LGUs (local government units) continue to do that practice of incentivizing. ‘Yung iba po may bigas, ‘yung iba po may cash incentive, ‘yung iba may discounts,” he said in response to reporters’ query.

The ranking congressman likened the giving of incentives to “ayuda” that helps uplift the lives of poor Filipinos.

“It’s also one way of reaching out, na hindi lang sila ma-vaccinate. Parang ayuda na rin po iyon especially to the poorer sector of society,” said the House leader.

“Papapuntahin mo sila sa vaccination site, mamamasahe naman sila eh. Kailangan din nilang may dala-dala pauwi. And that’s one way of reducing the chance of spreading the virus sa kanilang area kung sila mismo ang dadayo at may incentive silang dadayuhin sa ating mga vaccination sites,” he said.

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Ryan Ponce Pacpaco