Cabantian village chief backtracks on ‘No vaccination, No transaction’ policy

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A BARANGAY official in Davao City officially withdrew the “no vaccine, no transaction” policy at its Barangay Hall after receiving backlash from the public.

Barangay Cabantian announced on Wednesday, November 3, 2021, that it would implement the policy to encourage the public to have themselves vaccinated against Covid-19 for their own protection.

The policy also aims to protect its workers and constituents.

The barangay also said it aims to help the City Government achieve herd immunity.

“This is a part of the Punong Barangay function to protect the welfare of the people of the Barangay,” the barangay wrote.

However, this did not sit well with some residents and netizens. Some called the policy discriminatory. Some also reiterated that several residents have not yet been vaccinated due to the “limited supply” of vaccine, while others emphasized that no law mandates the public to be vaccinated.

The barangay took down the post late Wednesday evening.

Barangay Captain Nilo Cabiles apologized for the policy and that he had already withdrawn it.

“Ito po ay sa kagustuhan kong mapangalagaan [at] maproteksyunan ang karamihan sa ating mga kabarangay. Kung pagkakamali man ito, lubos akong humihingi ng paumanhin sa mga naapektuhan,” Cabiles said.

(This is part of our desire to protect the majority of our fellow barangay members. If there was anything wrong about it, I humbly ask for apologies to those affected.)

He added that the service in the barangay will continue, but they need to be cautious.

He also urged the public to continuously follow minimum health standards against Covid-19.

Cabiles also appealed to the public to have themselves vaccinated.

“Ganunpaman, ako ay nakikiusap na magpabakuna po tayong lahat at makinig tayo sa mga eksperto. Tanging hangad ko lang naman na dapat bawat isa sa atin ay magkaroon ng protection laban sa [Covid-19],” the official said.

(Despite this, I am appealing to the public to have themselves vaccinated and listen to the experts. My only hope is that everyone will be protected against Covid-19.)

This is not the first time that a barangay in the city attempted to implement a policy on vaccinated and unvaccinated persons.

Barangay Calinan was planning to implement a similar policy in August 2021, but it also withdrew the policy. The barangay, however, clarified they will still cater to unvaccinated individuals outside the barangay hall for the protection of the workers inside.

Barangay Lasang Captain Allan Simo-ag also said the barangay in Bunawan District is set to implement a “no entry, no exit” policy for those who are unvaccinated against Covid-19 to protect its residents.

Simo-ag said the proposed policy is currently being drafted by the barangay councilor, which is targeted to be implemented on November 15, 2021.

DILG-Davao Director Alex Roldan, however, has urged the barangay to look for other means to encourage its constituents to be vaccinated.

“Maybe we will find other method of encouraging them nga magpabakuna, for example dili sila kasulod sa barangay hall og walay bakuna (they can’t enter the barangay hall if they are unvaccinated),” Roldan said.

SunStar Davao

SunStar Davao

SunStar Davao is Davao City's most sought after community content provider in both print and online. It is part of the SunStar news network in the Philippines. Sun.Star Davao started as a bi-weekly newspaper Peryodiko Dabaw in December 1985 by Elpidio G. Damaso as the so-called alternative press during the end days of the Marcos dictatorship. It started publishing five times a week the following year and was relaunched as Ang Peryodiko Dabaw on September 7, 1987, marking the entry of new investors and its use of desktop publishing, while its Davao City competitors were still using letterpress.

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