Acknowledging that most of those who remain unvaccinated against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) are vendors, the Quezon City government will provide incentives to encourage them to get their jabs.

In a statement Wednesday, QC Mayor Joy Belmonte said among those who are still unvaccinated are market vendors, market employees, and ambulant vendors who are earning their livelihood on a day-to-day basis.

Belmonte said the city government will thus provide these market employees and vendors a financial aid of PHP2,000 to offset their income lost because of closing their stalls to go to the vaccination sites amid the rising number of Covid-19 infections.

“Most market vendors cannot leave their stalls because of possible loss of income. So to encourage them to take a day off to get vaccinated, we will provide them with incentives,” she said.

Among those who will be eligible to receive the financial assistance are QC resident market vendors, market employees, and ambulant vendors that have not been vaccinated as of Jan. 7, 2022, and who are willing to be vaccinated and are able to show proof of at least a first dose vaccination from January 8 to January 31.

Memorandum No. 03-22 issued by Belmonte on January 7 states that a masterlist of eligible persons shall be prepared by the Market Development and Administration Department (MDAD).

Eligible persons should be able to prove their status as market vendors, ambulant vendors, or market employees through previous registration with MDAD, or by presenting a vending permit, certification from their barangay, or reputable vendors’ association, and proof of residency in QC through any valid identification cards.

The list shall then be submitted to the City Health Department (CHD) for the facilitation of their inoculation schedule at vaccination sites nearest them.

Belmonte said any person caught providing false information to obtain financial assistance may be prosecuted under Ordinance No. SP3032 which prohibits Covid-19 vaccine fraud.

She said with the issuance of MMDA (Metropolitan Manila Development Authority) Resolution No. 22-01, those who fail or refuse to get vaccinated shall be required to undergo a Covid-19 swab test every two weeks at their expense and present a negative result before being admitted to work onsite.

She added the city government further reinforced the resolution through City Ordinance SP 3076-S2022 that provides employees and workers a grace period of one month to get at least a first dose before the provision for a mandatory bi-monthly reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) or antigen test is implemented.

Violators will be charged with a penalty of PHP500 for the first offense, PHP1,000 for the second offense, and PHP3,000 for the third and subsequent offenses.

“This program is aimed at protecting both the market vendors and their customers who they come into close contact with every day. If they get vaccinated, we are protecting them from serious illness and improving the city’s overall immunity,” Belmonte said. (PNA)