Getting Filipinos vaccinated against the coronavirus disease will be one of the priorities of President Duterte in the final year of his six-year term.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque cited the importance of vaccination to boost a person's protection against the virus while still following other health protocols even after getting inoculated.
"It has not changed. It is still ensuring that every Filipino is vaccinated," Roque said in a recent televised news conference when asked about the President's priorities in his final stretch.
Duterte, the tough-talking leader who vowed to end drugs and corruption but faced difficulties along the way from facing alleged rights abuses to pandemic concerns, will end his six-year term next year.
Of the 17 million doses of coronavirus jabs received by the country, the government has so far administered over 10 million jabs to Filipinos, mostly health workers, seniors, people with comorbidity, and essential workers.
More than 2.5 million Filipinos have already completed their two-dose vaccination. The government earlier laid down plans to inoculate up to 70 million adult Filipinos to reach herd immunity the year. But faced with limited vaccine supply from the global market, the vaccination goal however has been lowered to attain "population protection" in National Capital Region and other high-risk areas before the end of the year.
COVID-19 containment can be achieved once 40 to 50 percent of the population are vaccinated. Around 70 to 80 percent of the population, on the other hand, must be vaccinated to reach herd immunity, according to health authorities.
The Palace remained upbeat that as more coronavirus vaccines are delivered to the country, more people could be inoculated against the virus.
Roque maintained that the government’s goal for COVID-19 containment by December could be “achievable.” “We’re still aiming na at least when we go outdoors, it could be a mask-less Christmas,” he said last week.
Apart from stepping up the vaccination drive, the government will not be letting up in the fight against illegal drugs and corruption. Roque said sustaining the campaign against these two problems would remain the priorities of the President in the remainder of his term.
He said the government has made "inroads" in the battle against drugs as well as corruption and would continue the campaign in the remainder of the President's term.
"Needless to say marami po tayong nakamit doon sa mga pinangako ni presidente lalung-lalo na dun sa laban sa pinagbabawal na droga (Needless to say, we have met a lot of the promises made by the President especially in the fight against illegal drugs)," Roque said during a televised press conference Wednesday, June 30.
He mentioned a survey showing the public trust and satisfaction with the President and his performance "kasi pinanindigan niya yung pangako niya na laban sa droga (because he kept his promise on the fight against drugs)."
Apart from the gains in the fight against drugs and corruption, Roque trumpeted the President's other accomplishments such as providing free tuition in state universities and colleges, universal health care, free irrigation for small farmers, and free internet connection in public places.
In the battle against the pandemic, Roque credited the government's efforts to provide free coronavirus testing under the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) as well as free vaccination against the coronavirus.