By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga
The mayor of Don Salvador Benedicto (DSB) in Negros Occidental is currently eyeing incentives such as holding raffle draws for the town’s residents who will get vaccinated against coronavirus disease 2019, or COVID-19.
According to Mayor Marxlen Dela Cruz, holding a raffle draw will further encourage the residents to get the vaccine.
He said it would be very difficult to achieve their target of vaccinating at least 70 percent of the town’s population because getting the vaccine remains voluntary.
Dela Cruz said they will study the gimmick, believing that it would further hasten the town’s target to achieve herd immunity.
Based on the town’s data, only 1,000 people have been vaccinated against COVID-19. According to a 2015 census, the town of Don Salvador Benedicto has a population of 25,662 individuals.
Earlier, Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson bucked a proposal to introduce incentives for individuals who have already been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Lacson 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.
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.
Another mayor in Central Luzon is also offering livestock packages for residents who will get the vaccine./DGB, WDJ