‘No vaccine, no entry’ policy in LGUs not allowed – Duque

FILE PHOTO/GEORGE GIO BRONDIAL

MANILA, Philippines — Barring individuals from entering a locality on the basis of vaccination is not allowed, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said Thursday.

Duque made the remark during the House deliberations on the proposed 2022 budget, during which a lawmaker raised an executive order prohibiting unvaccinated individuals from entering Masbate.

“Hindi pupwede ‘yan na pinagbabawalan ang mamamayan ng isang lokalidad na makapasok hanggang siya ay bakunado,” Duque said.

(It cannot be a policy that locals are forbidden entry until they have been vaccinated.)

More than 250 passengers were stuck in a Pio Duran port in Albay after the province of Masbate restricted entry to people who were still unvaccinated for COVID-19.

Executive Order No. 26, issued by Masbate Gov. Antonio Kho on Aug. 18, states that no one is allowed entry into the province through its ports unless they present proof of “full vaccination at least 15 days before the said entry.”

READ: Passengers stuck in Albay as Masbate bars unvaccinated travelers

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1478878/passengers-stuck-in-albay-as-masbate-bars-unvaxxed

Masbate 1st District Representative Narciso Bravo Jr., who brought up such concerns during the budget briefing, said such policies could be considered “discriminatory.”

“Hindi naman mandatory yung vaccination natin sa ngayon. So ‘yung non-vaccinated at vaccinated pwede naman silang gumalaw, pareho naman silang may karapatang gumalaw under certain quarantine classifications,” Bravo said.

(Our vaccination is not mandatory for now. So both non-vaccinated and vaccinated individuals have the right to move under certain quarantine classifications.)

“Ako, personally, I object to this [no vaccine, no entry policy]. I believe this is discriminatory and, in fact, sumulat na ako sa regional director of the Department of the Interior and Local Government to take action on this particular EO,” he added.

(I personally disagree with this policy [no vaccine, no entry policy]. It seems to be discriminatory, and in fact, I have written the regional director of the Department of Interior and Local Government regarding this particular order.)

Duque said that while those who were already vaccinated can still contract the disease, they are protected against severe and critical cases of COVID-19.