‘Vaxxed 4Ps beneficiaries to get incentives’

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — The government will give incentives to vaccinated beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps.

Social Welfare Secretary Joselito Rolando Bautista, who was designated Cabinet officer for regional development and security for Western Mindanao, bared this plan of Malacañang during his visit to this city yesterday to monitor the second day of the National Vaccination Day.

He said President Duterte would issue an executive order through Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea on the provision of incentives to vaccinated 4Ps beneficiaries.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-Zamboanga peninsula office said 4Ps beneficiaries and household members in the region who have been vaccinated have reached around 40 percent.

DSWD data showed that 119,671 4Ps beneficiaries in Zamboanga peninsula have received their COVID jabs as of Monday.

Bautista denied claims that 4Ps beneficiaries are trooping to vaccination sites for fear of losing their subsidy from the government.

“It was not the reason why they came out to be vaccinated. It was because of regular family development sessions with 4Ps members emphasizing the importance of the vaccine as protection,” he said.

Meanwhile, in Eastern Visayas, the Department of Health (DOH) said it aims to administer 263,268 doses per day during the three-day National Vaccination Day.

Up to 1,861,760 residents have received at least one dose, which is equivalent to 55.4 percent of the eligible population in the region.

In Calabarzon, the DOH regional office said 353,140 doses were administered on Monday, surpassing the regional target of 340,000.

Calabarzon topped the list of regions with the most number of vaccinees on the first day of the three-day vaccination drive followed by Central Luzon with 299,487 and Central Visayas with 190,250. — Arnell Ozeta