DTI defends 'bakuna bubble' proposal: 'Para 'to sa economy'

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 2) — An official from the Department of Trade and Industry defended the proposal to make some services exclusive to vaccinated Filipinos, stressing this could prop up businesses struggling to keep afloat.

"The more na walang tao na nagpupunta sa bukas na establishments, masyadong mabagal ang movement," DTI Undersecretary Ruth Castelo said during a virtual briefing Thursday. "Kapag vaccinated na tayo, may safety precaution tayo. Para rin naman ito sa economy."

[Translation: The more that no one comes to open establishments, the slower the movement. Once we are vaccinated, we have safety precautions. It is also for the economy.]

The DTI and Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion floated the "bakuna bubble" proposal that would allow more movement for individuals who are vaccinated against the virus.

READ: 'Bubbles' for fully vaccinated to create more econ activity, lessen lockdowns - Palace adviser

Malacañang recently said it is open to such a proposal once Metro Manila achieves population protection of 50%.

While Health Undersecretary Rosario Vergerie acknowledged the idea, she noted that policies must be "non-discriminatory" since the majority of Filipinos have yet to receive their coronavirus shots due to supply shortage.

Local health authorities earlier said that even though a person is already fully vaccinated, that person can still catch the virus and transmit it to other people.

As of Aug. 21, more than 13.95 million Filipinos are fully protected against COVID-19.