Palace rejects easing of restrictions on seniors

by Alexis Romero (The Philippine Star), 1 Jun 2021

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang is against the proposal to allow fully vaccinated senior citizens to go out of their homes so they can contribute to economic recovery.

In rejecting the proposal, presidential spokesman Harry Roque yesterday said Malacañang is of the belief that senior citizens or those 60 years and above should stay home until the Philippines achieves “population protection” against COVID-19.

“I think it will depend on whether we will achieve population protection… More people should be given protection because the vaccine is not a guarantee that you will no longer catch COVID. It is a guarantee that you won’t have a severe illness or you won’t die. But the condition of seniors is different,” Roque said.

“So let us veer on the safer side while we do not have population protection yet. Until we have not vaccinated 70 percent of the population, our grandfathers and grandmothers should stay home for now,” he added.

Quarantine restrictions in some areas limit the movement of the elderly to availing themselves of essential goods and services and reporting for work.

National Commission of Senior Citizens chairman Franklin Quijano has suggested that senior citizens who have received their second dose of COVID-19 vaccine be allowed to leave their homes so they can help the economy rebound. Permitting senior citizens to go out would allow them to do exercises that would benefit their mental health, he added.

Roque clarified that senior citizens are not absolutely prohibited from leaving their homes.

“They can go out to buy their needs. If they need to go to the mall to do so, they are allowed to go out. They are also allowed to exercise because exercise is important in health promotion because we have to be healthy against COVID-19,” the Palace spokesman said.

As more vaccine doses become available, local government units (LGUs) in Metro Manila continue to urge residents to get vaccinated against COVID-19, with some dangling perks to make those hesitant to change their mind.

In Barangay Sucat in Muntinlupa City, for instance, some LGUs have held raffles for their vaccinees, with sacks of rice as prizes. In Las Piñas City, those who get vaccinated have the chance to win a house-and-lot package courtesy of Rep. Camille Villar.

The 17 mayors comprising the Metro Manila Council may establish a “uniform policy” for encouraging people to get vaccinated, MMC chairman and Parañaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez told dzMM Teleradyo yesterday.

Some business groups, meanwhile, have proposed the issuance of so-called vaccine pass that could entitle vaccine takers to discounts or freebies from establishments.

Some LGUs, particularly Parañaque City, still have to attend to residents who signed up for the COVID-19 vaccination program. Olivarez said around 50,000 out of the estimated 150,000 residents who registered online have yet to receive their vaccines. He assured the public that more vaccines would become available this month.

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Benhur Abalos said those in the priority list in the vaccination program should not hesitate to get vaccinated, especially now that mass inoculation has gone into full swing. – Ghio Ong