Quezon City Representative Alfred Vargas filed House Bill 10644 that aims to push for giving P15,000 cash assistance for fully-vaccinated Filipinos and to strengthen the government’s boosting program. 

According to Vargas, the cash program would be under the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) aside from the ongoing social amelioration program. 

“It prioritizes the poorest of the poor and the most vulnerable sectors of our communities. These include senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and persons with comorbidities.” Vargas said.

Vargas stated that the program would also cover all Filipino families as long as they are eligible and already comply with the government’s vaccination program. 

According to the bill’s explanatory note, Vargas reiterated that there will be a stronger safety measure that can support the marginalized sectors and protect them also from poverty. 

The “Ayuda sa Bakuna” program, which Vargas proposes, would help the Filipinos to reduce vaccine hesitancy. As a result, the government could have strengthened its efforts to have people get vaccinated. 

Our ‘Ayuda Sa Bakuna’ program reflects the Filipino people’s values of ‘bayanihan’ and ‘damayan’. To defeat COVID-19 and take back our normal lives from this virus, we need to help each other. We need to make sure that no one gets left behind,” Vargas said. 

Photo Credit: Facebook/AlfredVargasPH