BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – Negros Occidental’s Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson thumbed down a proposal giving incentives to individuals vaccinated against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
“We are not thinking that way,” Lacson said, pointing out that the vaccine itself is already a big incentive as it gives protection against the life threatening illness.
He also pointed out that even without incentives majority of the people were following health protocols.
Last month, National Inter-Agency Task Force (NIATF) spokesperson Restituto Padilla said they were eyeing incentives such as discounts on goods and services for those vaccinated against COVID-19.
Following Padilla’s statement, several local government units (LGUs) designed incentives. In Las Piñas City, Deputy Speaker Camille Villar launched a raffle draw that automatically qualified those vaccinated. Raffle prizes vary, including a house and lot and P1.5 million cash.
A mayor in Ilocos Sur province announced a similar scheme. The raffle draw is in December./PN
