By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga
Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson is not in favor of the proposal presented to the national government to introduce incentives for individuals who have been vaccinated against coronavirus disease 2019, or COVID-19.
“We are not thinking that way,” Lacson said.
The governor pointed out that the vaccine itself should already be the biggest incentive an individual will receive as it would give him or her the protection against the life threatening illness.
Lacson further stated that ever since the pandemic began, people have been obligated to follow the health protocols and the vast majority have followed it.
Now that the vaccine is available, the people should accept it, he added.
Lacson also has a message to those who are still refusing to get vaccinated that if they do not care about themselves, they should care about others.
Last month, National Inter-Agency Task Force spokesperson Restituto Padilla said they are eyeing to give incentives such as discounts on goods and services for those who have been vaccinated against COVID-19.
Following Padilla’s statement, several local government units in the country have already offered rewards or incentives for those who are willing to get vaccinated.
In Las Piñas, Congressman and Deputy Speaker Camille Villar has launched a program wherein those who got vaccinated in her district will automatically be included in a raffle draw wherein vaccinated individuals could win a house and lot worth P1.5 million as well as motorcycles, and grocery packages.
A mayor in the province Ilocos Sur has also offered a similar raffle, wherein residents inoculated against COVID-19 can win a house and lot when they hold the draw in December of this year./DGB, WDJ
Negros Occidental Provincial Incident Management Team (PIMT) head, Dr. Zeaphard Caelian, is optimistic that the province’s supply of COVID-19 vaccines will further increase as they received an additional 16,800 vials of Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine on Tuesday, June 8. (PIMT Negros Occidental photo)