Over 33 million people have registered with their local government units (LGUs) to get vaccinated against COVID-19 due to the joint government and private sector information and advocacy campaign, including the creative ways devised by LGUs to persuade them to sign up for vaccination, according to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año said LGUs "are innovating and seem to be outperforming each other in encouraging their constituents to get jabbed through perks and incentives such as raffle prizes of motorcycles and even a house and lot for those who have had their anti-COVID-19 doses."

"Nakakatuwa ang mga paraan at pakulo ng mga LGUs para lang maengganyo ang lahat na magparehistro at magpabakuna. Only through vaccination will we reach that certain level of population protection that will allow us to transition into the new normal and completely recover from the pandemic," he said.

The DILG Secretary said he is pleased that vaccine hesitancy is continuously decreasing as seen in the increasing number of people who have enlisted for vaccination in their respective LGUs because of the full blast campaign for vaccination.

"Instead of vaccine hesitancy, we would prefer vaccine envy among LGUs and the public so that they would be more motivated to increase their vaccination efforts," he said.

Año cited the raffle scheme of Las Piñas Representative Camille Villar where vaccinated persons have a chance to win motorcycles and a brand-new house and lot. He also lauded the initiative of Mayor Jesus Bueno Jr. of Santa, Ilocos Sur who offers house and lot as a prize to vaccinated locals.

He said some LGUs in Abra also offer drive-thru vaccination, fast lanes for persons with disabilities, free antipyretics, Libreng Sakay to the vaccination sites, free meals, and snacks.

In Davao Region, malls were tapped as vaccination sites in the cities of Davao and Tagum and free transportation was provided.

The LGUs of Puerto Princesa City, Bacolod City, Lala and Tubod in Lanao del Norte, and Binuangan, Misamis Oriental also provided free transport to senior citizens and other vaccinees. Senior citizens who got jabbed were also given P500 each in Puerto Princesa City.

Malabon City used e-trikes as a transport service for vaccinees. The LGU of Manila provided home vaccination to bedridden citizens, while the City of Bacoor provided home vaccination to senior citizens. On the other hand, Muntinlupa City conducted vaccination to the residents of a nursing home, Rain Tree Care Services, and Senior Residences.

Año also cited the Quezon City Government for its vaccination during night time for city workers who cannot miss work in the morning, especially those who are no work-no-pay personnel.

Private sector initiatives

Año said the private sector through the Task Force T3's (Test, Trace and Treat) Smart Bakuna Benefits Program have been very helpful in scaling up the national vaccination program.

He said Task Force T3 has partnered with close to 200 private establishments to offer discounts and exclusive freebies to those who have received their anti-COVID-19 shots.

Through the T3's initiative, the DILG Chief said customers just need to present their original COVID-19 vaccination card and a valid ID to participating restaurants in NCR Plus in order to avail of exclusive offers like free dishes, drink upsizes, discounts, or "buy one get one" promo.

Among the restaurants that have joined T3 campaign are McDonalds, Amici, Angus Pares, Bacolod Chicken Inasal, Banapple, Blackbeard's Seafood Island, Bo's Coffee, Buffalo's Wings N' Things, Burger King, Chowking, Goldilocks, Greenwich, Jollibee, Mang Inasal, Red Ribbon, Potato Corner, Tim Ho Wan, and many more.

For instance, vaccinated customers can get a 10% discount for a minimum single-receipt purchase worth P1,000 dine-in or take out at Babu - The Grid Food Market; two Cold White Brew for the price of 1 for dine-in and take out transactions at Bo's Coffee; or 10% discount for dine-in solo items and meals at Jollibee.

In partnership with Smart Communications and RestoPH, T3 Smart Bakuna Benefits is an incentive program under the Ingat Angat Bakuna Lahat campaign to reinforce consumer confidence to revive the economy as public health gradually improves.

Taskforce T3 is a multi-sectoral public-private consortium of companies and organizations working closely with the National Task Force (NTF) against COVID-19 and the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) in managing the COVID-19 situation in the Philippines.

For the complete list of establishments offering discounts and freebies, visit https://www.ingat-angat.com/benefits. (DILG)

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