President Rodrigo Roa Duterte expressed elation Monday over reports about improving COVID-19 situation in some parts of the country with the aggressive response of national government agencies and active participation of local government units (LGUs).

“I am happy to note that there is an improvement in all aspects of the fight against COVID,” President Duterte said in a response to reports on improving conditions in some areas.

“So meaning to say that we are working, we are succeeding, and everything is — everybody is putting his effort, sweat dito sa trabaho. I’d like to thank you. You are one of iyong overworked Cabinet members.”

In his report to the President, National Action Plan Against COVID-19 chief implementer Carlito Galvez Jr. said there is a notable reduction of COVID-19 infections in the National Capital Region (NCR), Calabarzon and Central Luzon.

The marked reduction in COVID-19 cases can be attributed to the closer cooperation between national government agencies and LGUs, according to Galvez.

But there are areas that have to be closely monitored, he said. These areas include Isabela, Baguio City, and several provinces in Mindanao.

The government is also particularly focusing on Tawi-Tawi after a reported COVID-19 outbreak in Sabah, Malaysia, Galvez said, highlighting the need to protect Tawi-Tawi from the virus due to the southern Philippines’ porous border.

On Monday, the Department of Health (DOH) added 2,638 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the country’s total number of cases to 359,169. PND