The Philippine government is committed to continue to protect the people from the coronavirus disease from carrying out testing, quarantine measures to vaccination efforts.
Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea highlighted the government's pandemic response, including the involvement of the military in the humanitarian efforts, during the observance of the International Humanitarian Law Day Thursday, August 12.
This year's national observance carries the theme “Upholding the Law of Armed Conflict Amidst the Covid-19 Pandemic: Protecting Humanity for Healing and Recovery."
"Almost two years into the pandemic, the Philippine government under the Duterte administration remains determined to protect our people from the dreaded disease," Medialdea said in a video message.
"Our Armed Forces, normally deployed to defend our people against armed attacks, has been contributing significantly to the protection of civilian lives against COVID-19, through its crucial role in the government’s pandemic response," he said.
Over 2,000 military doctors, nurses, and medical staff have been deployed to around 250 treatment and quarantine facilities throughout the country, according to Medialdea.
Military aircraft and other assets have also transported more than 60,000 civilians back to their provinces to decongest major cities.
More than two million pounds of medical equipment and supplies as well as 3 million food packs around the country were also distributed using these military assets.
"These humanitarian efforts of our Armed Forces testify to how highly they value civilian lives," Medialdea said.
"As this is the mindset which IHL hopes to instill among all armed forces around the world, it is gratifying to witness this very mindset already manifesting itself in the operations of our own Armed Forces of the Philippines," he added.
The country's active cases of coronavirus have increased to 87,663 after authorities recorded a case load of 12,439 Thursday. The country's death toll reached 29,529.
The government has tightened movement curbs in Metro Manila and other parts of the country to slow down the transmission while stepping up vaccination efforts and upgrading health care facilities.
Medialdea said the government's COVID response includes implementation of community quarantine, testing, tracing and treatment protocols and the provision of social amelioration.
He said these programs have been "allaying individual fears of sickness and death while addressing the economic uncertainties of households and communities."
"A mass vaccination campaign is now in full swing, steadily leading our people towards herd protection and immunity," he said.
More than 12 million people have so far been fully vaccinated since the inoculation drive started last March.