Despite the low number of new daily coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in the country, President Duterte on Tuesday, Dec. 21, admitted to being anxious about the possibility of the Omicron variant causing yet another surge in infections.

“Somehow, kinakabahan ako kasi (I’m nervous because)—let me be frank to the public, depleted na 'yung pera talaga ng Pilipinas (The Philippines' money has really been depleted), even coping up with the growing expenses for the typhoon victims,” he said, referring to the victims of typhoon "Odette" (international name: Rai) in Visayas and Mindanao.

The Chief Executive had his weekly pre-recorded “Talk to the People” public briefing on late Tuesday night where he spoke about his fear over the new COVID-19 mutation.

Duterte said Omicron, which has been detected in at least three people in the country, can be “as bad” as the previous variants of the virus.

“Winalis nga. Kung ano pa natira, ubusin na lang (It got swept. Whatever’s left, we’ll just spend it),” he said of government funds. However, Duterte sounded hopeful when he mentioned that the country will get fresh funds via the 2022 national budget.

“Ang problema lang (The only problem is) far and between the months and the days that coming our way, celebration and all, baka nga makalusot talaga 'yang Omicron (that Omicron might get into the country) as earlier than expected. 'Yun ang ikinatatakot ko (That’s what I fear),” Duterte said.

But as Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque III would later mention, there were already at least three Omicron cases in the Philippines.

READ: DOH records 3rd Omicron case in the country

Duque, who was part of the briefing, also told the President that Omicron is “more transmissible than Delta variant,” leading Duterte to wonder if the number of Omicron cases in the country is correct given that “There are so many arrivals into the Philippines."

“That’s why we said hindi tayo tatamaan niyan—tatamaan tayo kasi (that’s not going to hit us. That’s going to hit us) I said for as long as we accept people from the outside especially those in countries suspected of being hit already,” Duterte said.

While health experts believe Omicron is more transmissible than Delta, preliminary studies show that it does not cause severe infection.

Duque underscored that public compliance to health and safety protocols will help to contain the Omicron variant in the country.

The Philippines on Tuesday logged just 168 new COVID-19 cases, the lowest since May 22, 2020.

READ: DOH reports 168 new COVID-19 cases

The DOH also announced its approval for the shortened interval or waiting time for booster shots or additional doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

From the previous six-month waiting time, boosters can now be given to adults who completed their second dose of the vaccine at least three months prior.