Cavite Representative Elpido F. Barzaga Jr. urged to the House Committee on Health to immediately deliberate his proposed bill that will make COVID-19 immunization mandatory to all who are eligible as assessed by the Department of Health (DOH).

Barzaga filed House Bill No. 9252 seeks to amend Republic Act No. 1152, also known as “An Act Establishing the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Vaccination Program Expediting the Vaccine Procurement and Administration Process, Providing Funds Therefor, And For Other Purposes” last July 31.

The proposed bill will make COVID-19 immunization mandatory for those who are eligible as assessed by the DOH. Only those with medical issues established by the DOH or a registered medical doctor are exempt from receiving the vaccine.

The lawmaker said that the country needs a “drastic” measure to combat vaccine hesitation which he mentioned is slowing down the government’s pandemic response operations.
He also mentioned that “no persons who are covered by this Act, as determined by the DOH, shall be allowed to enter, convene or occupy public places, whether or not government or privately owned,” referring to individuals who are not vaccinated.

He also emphasized the difficulties that Local Government Units (LGUs) face. People are rejecting China’s Sinovac vaccines and prefer Western-made vaccines like Pfizer-BioNTech. Barzaga said “choosiness” is “aggravating” the problems of LGUs.

“Medyo nahuhuli tayo (sa vaccination), not to mention na medyo choosy ang ating mga kababayan, ‘pag nalaman nilang Pfizer, naku, punong puno ang linya. ‘Pagpunta sa vaccination center, nalaman nila Sinovac aatras sila at ‘di babalik, these are the problems in the field na ating nakikita,” he said.

Although it will be more challenging to get the bill passed now that the election fever has set in, Barzaga is still optimistic that the bill will be passed before the end of the 18th Congress.

Photo Credit: Facebook/barzagapidi