Vaccine incentives, affordable COVID tests urged as cases shoot up

Passengers pictured at Tandang Sora Jeep Terminal in Visayas Avenue, Quezon City on Oct. 19, 2021. The Department of Transportation is pushing for an increase in passenger capacity of public utility vehicles following the downgrading of Metro Manila's COVID-19 alert level from 4 to 3.

The STAR / Michael Varcas

MANILA, Philippines — Progressive groups urged the Duterte administration to provide fuel and transportation subsidies as incentives to the public to boost the country's COVID-19 vaccination rate and soften the impact of the oil price hike Tuesday.

This comes as gasoline, kerosene, and diesel prices rose by as much as P2.40 per liter effective Tuesday, January 4, with coronavirus cases still rising in Metro Manila.

In a statement issued Wednesday, Akbayan party-list said that the public needs a "lifeline" to help them start the new year healthy and with fewer economic worries.

Full Story: https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/01/05/2151969/vaccine-incentives-affordable-covid-tests-urged-cases-shoot-up