Amid threat of the COVID-19 Omicron variant, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte expressed optimism Monday, saying the country has good a chance of overcoming the pandemic with its aggressive immunization campaign against the coronavirus.
“Better days ahead because since December 1, we have been on average of 500 to 600 and the number of active cases continues to go down. I’m talking about the COVID,” President Duterte said during his televised Talk to the People address.
“Sa Davao nga last week there’s only one. Very impressive. We continue to see downward trend of the positivity rate, now only less than two percent.”
This means that for every 100 persons tested for COVID-19, only a maximum of two people turned out to be positive, according to the President.
Also, President Duterte reported that the government was able to administer 10.2 million doses throughout the Philippines from November 29 to December 3, a huge achievement in the country’s fight against COVID-19.
The President thanked Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr, doctors and volunteers for the successful conduct of the Bayanihan Bakunahan.
“We will have a second round of Bayanihan Bakunahan from December 15 to 17,” he said in announcing the new round of vaccination campaign.
“I hope that we would have the same success. But this time lesser because parang naubos na natin ang Pilipino sa ‘yung what counts sa bakuna kaya medyo there’s a slowdown of the COVID-19.”
Also during his address, the President welcomed the recent economic assessment of global investment banking firm Goldman Sachs, which projected that the Philippines will be a strong economy in the ASEAN next year.
Although it remains to be seen because of the threat posed by COVID-19 Omicron variant, particularly its impact on the Philippine population, the President said at least there is confidence among economists that the gross domestic product (GDP) could hit more than 7 percent.
“Sana, Inshallah. This will be a good Christmas for everybody,” he said. PND
