
Malacañang on Monday said making Covid-19 vaccination mandatory among beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino program, or 4Ps, would require an amendment of the law on conditional cash transfers.
“Tingin ko po ay pupuwede naman pong i-require iyan sa 4Ps pero baka kinakailangan po amyendahan iyong batas kasi iyong batas po ay nagsasabi kung sino iyong entitled sa 4Ps,” Palace spokesman Harry Roque said in a press briefing.
Beneficiaries of 4Ps need to meet conditions that range from keeping their children in school and attending health programs and seminars organized by the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
The cash grants under the program, which amount to up to P5,000 a month per family, are conditional and will only be disbursed if beneficiaries continue to meet requirements.
“Habang hindi pa po naa-amend, that is a suggestion na dapat pong pag-aralan pa ng DSWD dahil ang DSWD naman po ay sang-ayon sa batas, ang implementing agency ng 4Ps,” Roque said.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government earlier proposed including Covid-19 vaccination on the list of requirements for 4Ps beneficiaries.
Interior Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said such requirement would help the country ramp up its vaccination numbers.
In a CNN Philippines interview on Monday afternoon, Malaya said only 12 percent of 4Ps beneficiaries had received Covid-19 vaccines.
Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo urged the government to not impose disincentivizing measures for unvaccinated Filipinos.
“Parati kong sina-suggest ‘yung incentivizing, ‘yung pagbibigay ng incentives…pero ‘yung para na sa kanila, hindi mo ‘yun puwede i-withhold,” she said. John Ezekiel J. Hirro