FILE PHOTO: The traditional “Simbang Gabi” at Nuestra Señora de Gracia Parish in Guadalupe Viejo, Makati City, December 16, 2019. The dawn mass is a nine-day series of masses in Catholic churches which culminates in the Misa de Gallo on Christmas Eve. NIÑO JESUS ORBETA/PDI
MANILA, Philippines — For Malacañang, there is nothing wrong with proposals to exclude people unvaccinated against COVID-19 from receiving a Christmas bonus or operating a flea market (tiangge).
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said Tuesday that giving of Christmas bonus is not mandated by law, thus, “discretionary.”
Earlier, the Cebu City government said it would only release Christmas bonus to vaccinated employees.
“Wala po akong nakikitang pagkakamali diyan kasi Christmas bonus po ang pinag-uusapan. Hindi naman po requirement ng batas na magbigay ng Christmas bonus,” Roque said during a press briefing.
(I do not see anything wrong with it because it is a Christmas bonus. It is not a requirement under the law.)
“Ang requirement po para sa mga taong gobyerno ay 13th and 14th month pay. Dahil discretionary po ang Christmas bonus, pupwedeng gamitin po ‘yan kabahagi ng incentive para makapag-bakuna ang marami sa atin,” he explained.
(The requirements for government employees are 13th month and 14th-month pay. Since the Christmas bonus is discretionary, it could be used as an incentive to encourage vaccinations.)
As for the Metro Manila Council’s “no vaccine, no tiangge” proposal, Roque said it could be hinged on the “general welfare clause” as it could also be a “valid exercise of “police power” by local governments.
Under the proposal, tiangge owners or operators and sellers must be vaccinated against COVID-19.
“Ito naman po ay kabahagi ng general welfare clause na tanging mga bakunado ang papayagan magbenta sa mga tiangge. Tingin ko po, ‘yan ay valid exercise of police power,” Roque said.
(This is part of the general welfare clause that only vaccinated individuals would be allowed to sell in tiangge. I think that is a valid exercise of police power.)
In October, the Department of Health said the government may impose looser curbs by Christmas if COVID-19 cases continue to decline.
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