DOJ refutes DILG on ‘disincentivizing’ unvaccinated 4P beneficiaries

FILE PHOTO Residents belongs to the A5-indigent population wait for their turn to be vaccinated against COVID-19 at the Caloocan Central Elementary School, Caloocan City on Wednesday, June 16, 2021. INQUIRER PHOTO / NINO JESUS ORBETA

MANILA, Philippines — Non-vaccination against COVID-19 cannot be a ground for suspension or termination of conditional cash transfer benefits if the beneficiary is already qualified under Republic Act 11310 or the Act Institutionalizing the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said Monday.

Citing reports from various government units, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) said many of the four million 4Ps beneficiaries had not been vaccinated against COVID-19.

DILG spokesperson Jonathan Malaya said the solution they see is to “disincentivize” the unvaccinated.

“For those who have already qualified under the 4Ps Act, they become legally entitled to the conditional cash transfer benefits, provided they continue to comply with all the conditions under section 11 of the law,” Guevarra said.

Under Section 11 of the 4Ps Act, qualified to receive the government’s cash transfer benefits are the following:

• Pregnant women must avail of prenatal services, give birth in a health facility attended by a skilled health professional, and receive post-partum care and post-natal care for her newborn;
• Children zero (0) to five (5) years old must receive regular preventive health and nutrition services including check-ups and vaccinations;
• Children one (1) to fourteen (14) years old must avail of deworming pills at least twice a year;
• Children three (3) to four (4) years old must attend daycare or pre-school classes at least eighty-five percent (85%) of the time;
• Children five (5) to eighteen (18) years old must attend elementary or secondary classes at least eighty-five percent (85%) of their time; and
• At least one (1) responsible person must attend family development sessions conducted by the DSWD, at least once a month.

Also, Guevarra said under the COVID-19 Vaccination Program Act of 2021, “vaccination cards shall not be an additional mandatory requirement for government transactions, among others.

“Hence, non-vaccination against COVID-19 cannot be a ground for suspension or termination of conditional cash transfer benefits if the beneficiary household has already qualified, and continues to qualify, under the 4Ps act,” he added.

EDV