The Department of Justice (DOJ) has warned against proposals to make COVID-19 vaccination a requirement for beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said that 4Ps beneficiaries are “legally entitled” to the conditional cash transfer benefits as long as they are complying with the law’s conditions for entitlement for the subsidy.
“The 4Ps beneficiaries are the most marginalized families in our country. To remove their current benefits may give rise not only to legal challenges but more so to adverse political repercussions,” Guevarra said.
Guevarra added the vaccination act does not require vaccination in government transactions which includes subsidies.
“Hence, non-vaccination against COVID-19 cannot be a ground for suspension or termination of conditional cash transfer benefits if the beneficiary household has already qualified, and continues to qualify, under the 4Ps act,” he added.
