Akbayan Party-list is appealing to the government to provide fuel and transportation subsidies as incentives to the public to further boost the country’s COVID-19 vaccination rate and soften the impact of a big-time oil price increase.
Its first nominee, Perci Cendaña, cited the public needs a “lifeline” to help them start the new year healthy and with less economic worries.
“We are welcoming the new year with a heavy load. Again, COVID-19 cases are increasing,” he said.
“The government should seriously explore transportation and fuel incentives to ease the suffering of so many who have only recently begun to rebuild their lives and motivate more people to get their vaccines,” Cendaña added.
Instead of restricting the mobility of unvaccinated people, the government must adopt policies that would bring positive behavioral change, and “not simply threaten people with restrictions,” he said.
The country welcomed the new year with a spike in COVID-19 cases and a huge increase in the prices of gasoline, diesel, and kerosene, Cendaña lamented.