Bong Go supports calls for greater mobility as incentive for fully vaccinated individuals to help revive the economy

Senator and Chair of the Senate Committee on Health Christopher "Bong" Go has echoed the calls of several business owners and franchisees for government authorities to study the possibility of offering incentives to fully vaccinated individuals in order to encourage more Filipinos, especially those who are still hesitant to get their COVID-19 shots.

"Pag-aralan dapat natin nang mabuti ang pagbibigay ng insentibo sa mga bakunado, tulad ng mas maluwag na mga patakaran na ligtas pa rin. Maaaring pwede sila lumabas, makapagtrabaho at makagalaw nang mas konting restrictions pero compliant pa rin sa minimum health standards," he said.

"Malaking tulong ito sa ekonomiya at para ma-enganyo at tumaas rin ang vaccine confidence," suggested Go.

On September 14, more than 1,000 businesses have issued a manifesto lamenting the financial losses and liabilities they have incurred as a result of the national government's lockdowns.

"Of utmost importance, our employees have families to feed and stable employment is difficult to assure without a clear plan," it said.

They declared complete support for Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship and Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion's proposal for the introduction of the bakuna bubble as a strategy to resuscitate the economy.

COVID-19 restrictions are to be relaxed for fully vaccinated individuals under the proposed bakuna bubble, which will help promote the economy and protect the jobs of many Filipinos.

Go has earlier stated his support for the proposed bakuna bubble as well as other proposals to loosen some of the COVID-19 restrictions for fully vaccinated individuals as long as minimum health standards are still in place.

"Malaking parte ng ating ekonomiya ang National Capital Region. Kung ma-relax natin konti ang mga travel restrictions at ibang protocols para sa bakunado na, inaasahan natin na mas maraming sektor ng ekonomiya ang mabubuksan. Mas maraming mga kababayan natin ang makapaghanapbuhay muli at makabalik sa kani-kanilang mga trabaho. Ibig sabihin, mas maraming pamilya ang makabangon mula sa hirap na dulot ng pandemya," Go explained.

"Subalit dahan-dahan nating gawin ito. Huwag nating biglaing buksan lahat kaagad, baka naman tumaas ang bilang ng mga kaso at mahihirapan na naman ang ating healthcare system. Ayaw nating mag-back to zero na naman tayo. Kaya maingat lang dapat nating balansehin ang buhay at kabuhayan ng mga Pilipino," Go cautioned.

The Senator then expressed his gratitude to numerous private business entities for coming up with innovative incentive plans for fully vaccinated individuals, such as discounts and freebies.

"Maraming salamat sa mga pribadong kumpanya sa mga pa-discounts at freebies ninyo para sa bakunadong kababayan natin. Malaking bagay ito para ma-engganyo natin ang mas maraming Pilipino magpabakuna," Go said.

Meanwhile, Go reaffirmed his call for qualified and unvaccinated Filipinos to receive their COVID-19 vaccinations. He noted that studies show that fully vaccinated individuals have a significantly lower risk of infection and severe illness from COVID-19, and that they should be allowed to participate in certain pre-pandemic activities as long as basic health protocols, such as wearing a mask and face shield and observing social distancing, are followed.

"Sa ngayon po, naging maganda po ang vaccine confidence na tumataas na. Kahit na noong umiikot ako, tinatanong ko sila noong unang panahon 10% lang po ang nagtataas ng kamay, ngayon po halos kalahati na po dahil nakikita nila na protektado sila sa bakuna, lalong-lalo na po ngayon na merong Delta variant na napakabilis ng transmission four times more contagious po ito," Go noted.

"Ito pong bubble system, mas magiging successful ito kapag mas marami na ang bakunado. Kaya katulad ng pakiusap ko sa mga kapwa ko Pilipino, kung eligible na kayo, 'wag kayo matakot at magpabakuna na kayo. Mas maraming bakunado, mas ligtas ang ating mga pamilya at komunidad," he explained.

As of September 13, the country has already administered a total of 39,142,205 COVID-19 doses. A total of 22,063,529 individuals have been given their first dose while 17,078,676 Filipinos have been fully vaccinated. The country's daily vaccination rate stands at 395,704 jabs a day as of September 13.

Meanwhile, Go said that the government is studying the expansion of the national vaccination program to the general public.

"Ngayon po ay pinag-aaralan ng gobyerno ang pagbubukas po ng bakuna sa general public para naman po makapagpabakuna na po 'yung may gusto at tuluy-tuloy po ang ating vaccine rollout," said Go.