Vaccination. File photo
MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang disproved Thursday circulating false information that the government imposed additional COVID-19 restrictions, including disallowing unvaccinated people from going out and excluding them in the cash aid during the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the public should not believe what he called “fake news,” explaining that since the country has yet to achieve “population protection” or the vaccination of at least 50% of the population against COVID-19, the government could not impose such limitations at this point.
Residents of areas that will be placed under ECQ, including Metro Manila, vaccinated or unvaccinated are qualified to avail of the financial assistance or “ayuda,” he added.
Roque also noted that qualified recipients of the ECQ cash aid do not need to present any proof of vaccination.
“Wala pa tayong kahit anong pagbabawal na ini-impose sa mga taong wala pang bakuna. Ang hiningi lang natin na nandiyan na ang bakuna, magpabakuna ang lahat,” he said in a briefing.
(We have not imposed restrictions on those who are still unvaccinated. What we are asking for, now that the vaccines are already here, is for them to get it.)
“Wala rin katotohanan na ire-require natin ang bakuna para sa ayuda. Lahat ng nangangailangan, mabibigyan ng ayuda, hindi kayo hahanapan ng proof of vaccination,” he added.
(There is also no truth to the rumors that we would require vaccination to avail of the cash aid. All of those who need it can get aid, you will not be asked to present proof of vaccination.)
Roque, however, clarified that individuals – vaccinated or unvaccinated – are indeed barred to go outside of their homes unless they are among the so-called authorized persons outside of residents (APORs) or they would be getting essential goods such as food and medicine.
He also said people who are scheduled to get inoculated against COVID-19 during the ECQ period will also be allowed to go out.
“Ang general rule [habang ECQ] ay bawal lumabas. Ang exception ay ang mga nagtatrabaho dahil APOR sa mga industriyang bukas, mga frontliners at mga nagtatrabaho sa gobyerno,” he said.
(The general rule during ECQ is no one can go out of their homes. The exceptions are APORs, frontliners, those working in government.)
“Kung kayo ay APOR 0 magpapabakuna, pwede kayong lumabas,” he added.
(If you are an APOR or will have yourself vaccinated, you can go out.)
Roque issued the clarification after dwellers in Metro Manila trooped to various vaccination sites on Thursday, a day before the region goes back to a hard lockdown or ECQ.
In Manila, at least 19,000 individuals flocked to vaccination sites early Thursday morning in a bid to get immunized before the lockdown. Metro Manila will be under ECQ from August 6-20.
READ: Manila vaccine sites reach early cutoff as walk-in vaccinees come in droves to beat lockdown
The Department of Health (DOH) echoed the pronouncement of Malacañang.
“Huwag po tayong maniwala sa fake news na ‘pag hindi nabakunahan, walang ayuda o hindi papapasukin sa trabaho. Iwasan po nating magpakalat ng fake news gaya ng mga ito na nagdudulot ng kalituhan sa ating mga kababayan,” the health agency said in a statement.
(Let us not believe the fake news that if you are not vaccinated, you will not receive aid or will not be allowed to go to work. Let us avoid spreading fake news like this as it causes confusion to the people.)
The DOH said it understands the sentiment of people who want to get vaccinated, but urged them to still prioritize safety and health protocols.
“Dama namin ang kagustuhan ng ating mga kababayan na magpabakuna. Nakita po natin ang haba ng pila sa mga vaccination sites. Ngunit nais lang po naming ipaalala sa lahat na siguraduhin natin ang kaligtasan ng bawat-isa,” it added.
(We feel the desire of people to get vaccinated. We saw the long queue in vaccination sites. But we would like to remind everybody that we should ensure the safety of each other.)
The DOH also assured the public that vaccinations against COVID-19 will continue during the ECQ period, but took to task local government units to make sure their vaccination rollouts would not turn into so-called superspreader events.
“Inaanyayahan rin namin ang mga lokal na pamahalaan na magkaroon ng registration upang ma-manage ang dami ng tao na pumupunta sa mga vaccination site. Hindi natin pwedeng hayaan na maging superspreader events ang ating pambansang pagbabakuna lalo na at nandito na ang Delta variant,” DOH said.
(We urge LGUs to provide registration to manage the number of people who go to vaccination sites. We cannot let vaccination efforts become superspreader events especially that the Delta variant is already here.)