Discipline, cooperation, vaccination to defeat Covid-19

“More than surveys, my focus is on service. After all, seeking public office is all about providing public service.

As Covid-19 cases in the Philippines show a downward trend compared to prior periods, I would like to appeal to the public not to become complacent in order to avoid squandering the gains of our collective bayanihan efforts and sacrifices to defeat the pandemic. The Department of Health said last 21 October that the seven-day average of daily new cases in the National Capital Region (NCR) had gone down to the level prior to March and April. The better figures were attributed to Metro Manila’s high immunization rate and the government’s PreventDetect-Isolate-Treat-Reintegrate approach, according to the Health department.

Despite this, I urge Filipinos to sustain the momentum by upholding discipline, vigilance, cooperation, and the bayanihan spirit. Let us not waste our gains in the fight against Covid-19 by lowering our defenses. Let me also assert that the downward trend attests to the effectiveness of science-based government pandemic response. As we now see the light at the end of the long and dark tunnel, the more we should not lose our focus — “Bayanihan at bakuna muna bago pulitika (Bayanihan and vaccine before politics).”

Amid these developments, the government’s vaccine rollout — which has fully vaccinated more than 25 million Filipinos, as of 21 October — continues to reach even more of our countrymen to ensure no one is left behind. We have also received 97 million vaccine doses, as of said date, with more than 55 million doses administered and almost 30 million Filipinos getting their initial dose as well. The government has also expanded the national immunization program to the general public, in accordance with vaccination guidelines recommended by health experts. By the end of October, the government hopes to have fully vaccinated at least 85 percent of the eligible population in the NCR while expanding the rollout in the critical areas of Metro Cebu, Metro Davao, Bulacan, Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Pampanga and Rizal.

As we continue to protect the lives of Filipinos through vaccination and other preventive measures, we are also working hard to protect livelihoods to defeat hunger, unemployment and poverty. In fact, my office continued to go around the country last week to aid many of our countrymen whose lives and livelihoods have been adversely affected.

In Marinduque, we assisted 303 health workers and 50 patients at the Marinduque Provincial Hospital where I personally witnessed the launching of the 144th Malasakit Center in the country. I also visited and aided 557 recovering typhoon “Jolina” victims in Boac. Meanwhile, my team assisted in providing aid to almost 4,000 families affected by typhoon “Rolly” in Tiwi, Malilipot, and Malinao in Albay; and 31 families in Catarman, Northern Samar.

After visiting typhoon victims in Cagayan province last week, my team continuously aided a total of 5,730 families from the towns of Aparri, Gonzaga, Santa Ana, Gattaran, Lal-lo, Camalaniugan, Sanchez Mira, Pamplona, and Claveria who were greatly affected by flashfloods.

About 2,000 individuals from various sectoral groups were also aided in the towns of Balangiga and Lawaan in Eastern Samar; 14,000 residents of Tangalan, Ibajay, Nabas, Buruanga, and Malay in Aklan; 4,000 residents of Anahawan, San Ricardo, Hinundayan and Bontoc in Southern Leyte; and more than 14,000 displaced residents in Bohol province, particularly in Clarin, Inabangga, Buenavista Getafe, Panglao, Dauis, Loboc and Batuan.

We also delivered assistance to 774 farmers affected by African swine fever in Cagayan de Oro City; 1,625 microentrepreneurs in Salay, Sugbongcogon, Medina, Talisayan, Magsaysay, and Gingoog City in Misamis Oriental; 328 transport workers in Monkayo, Davao de Oro; 370 microentrepreneurs in

Pasil, Kalinga; more than 1,000 displaced workers composed of barbers and beauticians from Santa Rosa and Calamba City and 300 students in Siniloan, Laguna.

We also aided 126 vulnerable residents in Catarman, Camiguin; 1,503 families in Baguio District, Davao City; and 9,000 families in Tarlac province over the week.

Meanwhile, I would like to thank the Filipino people for their continuing high trust and support. The Publicus Asia’s Pahayag-Quarter 3 survey conducted in mid-October reflected the trust given to me by Filipinos retaining our top spot consistent with the earlier results in Quarter 2 conducted last July of this year. Moreover, the study also showed that 23.6 percent of respondents expressed support for my vice-presidential candidacy.

Nevertheless, more than surveys, my focus is on service. After all, seeking public office is all about providing public service especially to those who need our help the most.

Regardless of what happens, I will continue to work for the people to whom

I owe this privilege of being able to serve them. I am determined to fulfill my role as a bridge for the poor, the needy, the hopeless and the helpless — connecting them to their government so that their voices are heard and their concerns are addressed during these trying times.

Grateful for the trust and support you have given to me and the Duterte administration, we will not let you down. Let us work together to sustain the momentum, rebound from this crisis, and emerge as a stronger, more united nation — capable of continuing the positive change that President Rodrigo Duterte has started toward providing a more comfortable life for the future generations of Filipinos.

“As we now see the light at the end of the long and dark tunnel, the more we should not lose our focus — ‘Bayanihan at bakuna muna bago pulitika.’