Guevarra: LGUs can require vaccination vs COVID-19 even without national lawHealth workers and other members of vaccine proriority groups receive their second shot of Sinovac's COVID-19 jab at Marikina Elementary School on Tuesday, May 4, 2021. "Theoretically, a local ordinance compelling all residents within the territory of the LGU to get themselves vaccinated against COVID-19 may be enacted even without a national law on the matter," the DOJ chief said Thursday. Guevarra explained that this exercise of police power is similar to a local ordinance prohibiting video game arcades within specified distance from schools. But the justice chief stressed that a local ordinance mandating vaccination may also be legally challenged. President Rodrigo Duterte, when he hinted that the government may mandate vaccination against COVID-19, invoked police power, which Guevarra said was correctly used.

Source: Philippine Star September 30, 2021 06:22 UTC