With reports of COVID-19 spike in recent days, with cases reaching around 3,000 in the last three days, the Palace urged the public to not be complacent and to continue adhering to the minimum public health standards even with the current availability of vaccines for medical frontliners.

The rollout of the national vaccination program against COVID-19 in the provinces has already began as the vaccination of healthcare workers in the Visayas started today, March 4, 2021 at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) in Cebu City.

D. Gerardo “Gap” Legaspi, Medical Director of the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) became the first Filipino to be officially inoculated with a COVID-19 vaccine, as the Philippines’ national vaccination program started today, March 1, 2021.

The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Friday, February 26, 2021, approved the uniform travel protocols for all local government units (LGUs).

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Friday, February 26, 2021, retained the General Community Quarantine (GCQ) classification of the National Capital Region (NCR), Baguio City and Davao City.

The initial 600,000 doses of Sinovac vaccine donated by China to the Philippines are expected to arrive in the country on Sunday, February 28, 2021 and some government officials will personally receive the vaccines upon arrival, according to Presidential Spokesperson Secretary Harry Roque Jr.

Presidential Spokesperson Secretary Harry Roque Jr. stressed that the Palace acknowledges the efficacy of the Sinovac vaccine and gives support to its use in healthy individuals and other eligible population.

“Wala pa rin po tayong face-to-face classes sa bansa.” Presidential Spokesperson Secretary Harry Roque Jr announced this today, February 22, after President Rodrigo Roa Duterte decided once again to defer the implementation of the proposed pilot face-to-face classes in low-risk areas until after the country’s national vaccination program against COVID-19 has been rolled out

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte signed today, February 18, a memorandum order expediting the procurement and administration of vaccines for the protection against COVID-19 by allowing more than 15% downpayment for the purchase of the said vaccines.