We, the citizens of the Republic of the Philippines, declare our opposition against the Senate Bill 2422 known as “AN ACT CREATING A VACCINE AND HEALTH PASSPORT PROGRAM…” and HOUSE BILL 10249 KNOWN AS “AN ACT PROVIDING FOR MANDATORY CORONAVIRUS 2019 VACCINE FOR ALL FILIPINO CITIZENS…” AND ALL OTHER BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS MANDATING THE VACCINATIONS TO EVERY FILIPINO, ESPECIALLY OUR CHILDREN.

The bills that seek mandatory vaccinations in every citizen dismally miss on looking at the child and their families as human beings who are growing, developing, evolving, capable of becoming healthy and well, and not merely as recipients or targets of vaccine-related interventions. 

It claims to address COVID-19 pandemic but it fails to carry the Filipinos’ holistic wellness in order to curb the proliferation of this disease. The term “mandatory” is dangerously ambiguous. Nowhere in the proposed bills is it being clearly and concretely defined, lending it and the whole context of the proposed bill susceptible to various interpretations. It tends to lay down the groundwork for furthering more stringent laws regarding mandatory immunizations. The proposed bills even bear an undertone of discrimination to individuals who choose not to be vaccinated. 

Specifically, Section Seven of HB 10249 reeks of privilege and is totally turning blind eye to the current economic plight of the people who choose not to receive vaccinations.

The idea of requiring every qualified individual in the country to get vaccinations is but a threat to the freedom of individuals and families who want to make informed decisions regarding children’s health. We will have to push ourselves to conform and the right to make conscious and informed decisions will have been extinguished. People may resort solely to vaccines without using their independent judgments. All the more, these bills are a belligerent threat to our Right to Life, and highly probable for misuse of authorities who wish to impose their will out of sheer personal interest. 

 In a picture this is a state-sanctioned discrimination for the choices made by an individual. 

We are for informed choices especially on matters that affect the health especially of our children. PRECISELY, THE PROPOSED BILLS THAT SUBJECT THE FILIPINOS TO COMPULSORY AND/OR MANDATORY VACCINATIONS MUST BE QUASHED TO UPHOLD OUR RIGHTS TO LIFE and FREEDOM to CHOOSE, to RECEIVE and to REFUSE in HONORING THE HUMANITY AND DIGNITY of EACH CHILD AND EACH HUMAN PERSON. It is not easy to form one’s own judgment about available vaccinations, given the way vaccines are promoted, and the first prerequisite to such is good information about the nature of illness, and the benefits and risks of vaccination.

The proposed bills are wanting of sufficient and comprehensive empirical basis that would give a more contextual picture on the real health situation in the country, especially on emerging illnesses. There is an urgent need to do a closer review into the consistency of the proposed bills with the Philippine Constitution because it is clearly a threat to our RIGHT TO LIFE. 

QUASH THE SENATE BILL 2422 KNOWN AS “VACCINE PASSPORT BILL,” AND HOUSE BILL 10249 KNOWN AS “AN ACT PROVIDING FOR MANDATORY CORONAVIRUS 2019 VACCINE FOR ALL FILIPINO CITIZENS…” AND ALL OTHER BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS MANDATING THE VACCINATIONS TO EVERY FILIPINO, ESPECIALLY OUR CHILDREN 

and UPHOLD REPUBLIC ACT 11525, and strengthen government support for and promotion of healthy lifestyle and integrated health care to build natural immunity. 

IS COVID-19 illness preventable only by vaccines? No. It is precisely imperative to lend a perspective on the role of lifestyle into the whole issue of the individual’s, especially, the children’s health and illness. This in itself  demands again taking into account an array of scientific literature and narratives of families on the trends of nutrition, sleep patterns, education and other factors that influence and shape the whole of the child’s well-being. 

In particular, children’s health especially in poor and marginalized communities is indeed challenged and compromised. This brings to light the gamut of issues facing the margins of the population, which is an ecosystem of health in itself. Thus the country’s public health policies can be enhanced and strengthened by broadening understanding and contextualization of integrative child care and integrative primary health care principles and practices. 

The support for a healthy social life in the country by promoting free and well-informed decision-making processes especially for legislations that significantly affect adults and children and their health. It is important for the Filipino public to be informed about the proposed bill. If this intention were present, the quarantine-related restrictions on movement would never be a hindrance in exploring venues for more deliberations and consultations. 

A healthy space for decision-making is one that weighs in on and harmonizes the polarities and diversities of opinions and experiences. There must be a genuine and constant commitment by OUR POLICY MAKERS to educate and involve the active constituency on matters affecting the health of this generation and the generations to come. 

With this, WE, the ALLIANCE OF DABAWENYOS FOR FREEDOM AND INFORMED CHOICE, CALL TO QUASH THE SENATE BILL 2422 KNOWN AS “VACCINE PASSPORT BILL,” AND HOUSE BILL 10249 KNOWN AS “AN ACT PROVIDING FOR MANDATORY CORONAVIRUS 2019 VACCINE FOR ALL FILIPINO CITIZENS…” AND ALL OTHER BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS MANDATING THE VACCINATIONS TO EVERY FILIPINO, ESPECIALLY OUR CHILDREN.

UPHOLD REPUBLIC ACT 11525 AND THE PHILIPPINE CONSTITUTION!

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Alliance of Dabawenyos for Freedom and Informed Choice

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Read or download the Tagalog Version of the Petition here.

Read and/or download the Bisaya Version of the Petition here.

YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE IN THIS MOVE TO #QUASHTHEMANDATORYVAXX!

It is high time that we make our numbers count! 

We are encouraging Filipinos all over the world, vaxxed or not, to make a stand against mandatory vaccinations. Download this petition (in English) here and run this in your own locality, as we are gathering 1 million signatures minimum nationwide. You can send your signed petitions or questions at adfic2021@gmail.com.

If you wish to contribute financially, your PhP2 (Yes, 2 Pesos!) or more can go a long way to fund our campaign to #quashthemandates. 

G Cash - 0917 779 1818 (D.Z.)