CAGAYAN de Oro Councilor George Goking on Friday appealed to the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) including the city government for the suspension of the order mandating a ‘no vax card, no entry’ in business establishments policy, following complaints from various sectors.

Goking even said not yet time to impose the policy in establishments unless enough fully vaccinated residents or ‘reached the required 70 percent herd immunity.’

“I’m appealing for the suspension of the “No Vaccine, No Entry policy” in business establishments until the city’s economy has fully recovered,” Goking said.

Goking said that the COVID-19 pandemic is not only the concern of the government but also that of the private sector and the two must join hands in providing better solutions.

“We need to balance everything,” said Goking.

Goking said the Department of Trade Industry (DTI) even rejected the policy to allow only vaccinated people in malls and other establishments.

“The DTI does not even agree with the proposal to prohibit non-vaccinated people from entering shopping malls and other establishments,” said Goking.

He said that according to DTI Undersecretary Ruth Castelo said such a move would be discriminatory, adding many Filipinos have not yet received an anti-coronavirus shot, not of their own accord but because of the availability of vaccines.

“Even Secretary (Ramon) Lopez does not subscribe to it,” said Goking.

He said the ongoing implementation of the policy in the city would result in discrimination, as he quoted Lopez.

Goking, chair of the City Council committee on trade and commerce said that the government supposed don’t want to discriminate against those vaccinated and against those that are not.

Lawyer Jose Edgardo Uy, chair of Cagayan de Oro’s Regulatory Compliance Board, in an interview said the city government only following the guidelines issued by the IATF under alert level 2, particularly for indoor venues for fully vaccinated individuals.

“The city’s IATF should perhaps wait first for the majority of the Cagay-anons population to be immunized against the coronavirus before considering implementing such a policy,” said Goking.

Goking said he acknowledged that there should be “enough fully vaccinated residents” before implementing the restriction.

Based on the official data showed around 27.8 million vaccine doses have been administered nationwide, with 12.5 million given as a second shot.

“The government’s year-end goal is to vaccinate 70 million Filipinos,” said Goking.

As of today, only 57% of the target population is fully vaccinated, and to achieve a 70% herd immunity, the city needs to inoculate 518,518 residents only by December, this year, asked Goking why the city implemented the policy.

Goking maintained that barring individuals from entering establishments or restaurants based on vaccination is not allowed and violates human rights.

“Our vaccination is not mandatory for now. So both non-vaccinated and vaccinated individuals have the right to enter any establishments,” said Goking.

He said that every citizen has a right, and it is up to businessmen if they don’t allow those who have not been vaccinated to enter their establishments to protect the health of their customers.

The councilor however stressed that everyone, especially those who have not been vaccinated, should continue to strictly follow health protocols. (Ben Balce)