No Vax, No Subsidy for 4Ps: Anti-poor policy
By Mira Anacio
The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) proposed a “no vaccine, no subsidy” policy for the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries last November 7. The controversial proposal received numerous objections from beneficiaries, government officials, and political aspirants who explained that the proposal is unlawful and cruel.
Vaccination Status
Since the start of vaccine roll-out, various measures have been taken to encourage and increase the vaccination rate in the country. Among these are incentives from private enterprises, proposals of cornering policies — no vaccination: no work, no pay, no entry, no travel, and most recently no vaccine, no subsidy for the 4Ps beneficiaries.
According to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Assistant Secretary Glenda Relova, as of November 5, only 526,565 have been vaccinated against Covid-19 out of the 4.1 million 4Ps beneficiaries.
No as Response
In response to the proposal, Anakalusugan Party-list Representative Michael Defensor said, “the proposal is downright oppressive and anti-poor, and simply unacceptable. Indigent families and their dependent children will suffer more if they get deprived of their cash subsidies.”
Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon also opposed the idea. He said that people cannot assume 4Ps beneficiaries are not vaccinated because they refused, reasons could be the limited access to vaccines especially in the countryside, the roll out remains slow, or the vaccines available are not what the people prefer.
Connected to this, the Department of Justice (DOJ), political aspirants, like Leni Robredo, Isko Moreno, and Manny Pacquio, also dubbed the proposal as illegal, oppressive, and anti-poor.
According to Pacquiao, if the DILG had consulted their lawyers, they would have known that adding another condition for availing the 4Ps subsidy by themselves is illegal and unconstitutional. He also added that only the Congress has the power to make changes in the guidelines of the 4Ps subsidy.
Pacquiao instead insisted the government should explain to 4Ps beneficiaries that they stand to benefit from getting vaccinated against COVID-19.
