CABSEC NOGRALES: Magandang tanghali po sa ating mga kababayan at sa Malacañang Press Corps.

Umpisahan po natin ang ating briefing ngayong tanghali sa isang pasasalamat. Lubos po kaming nagpapasalamat sa sambayanang Pilipino sa patuloy ninyong suporta at tiwala sa liderato ni Pangulong Rodrigo Roa Duterte.  The latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey shows that the President has continued to enjoy very good net satisfaction rating at +60 – the highest among the country’s top officials.  Asahan po ninyo na patuloy na gagawin ng Pangulo kung ano ang ikabubuti nang mas nakararami hanggang sa huling araw ng kaniyang panunungkulan.

Ngayon araw, ikawalo ng Pebrero 2022, ang simula ng campaign period. Ang eleksyon sa Pilipinas, sabi nga nila, ay tila isang napakahabang okasyon. Kaya naman panawagan natin sa mga kandidato, sa kanilang mga tagasuporta at sa ating mga kababayan, panatilihing sumusunod pa rin tayo sa minimum public health standards.  Paalala lang po: Narito pa rin ang COVID-19. Maayos na isuot ang mask, palaging maghugas ng mga kamay, umiwas po tayo sa mga matatao at siksikang lugar.

At sa mga hindi pa nababakunahan, magpabakuna na po tayo. Sa mga kumpleto na ang primary vaccines, magpa-booster na rin po, magpa-booster na po kayo.

Dagdag na paalala rin po sa ating mga kandidato at kanilang taga-suporta: Bawal po sa 2022 campaigning ang pakikipagkamay, ang pagyakap, ang pagbeso-beso o anumang physical contact ng kandidato at ng publiko.  Bawal ang malapitang selfies o pagpapakuha ng picture nang malapit kayo sa isa’t isa, at ang pamamahagi ng pagkain at inumin sa mga campaign events.

Samantala, muling humarap si Pangulong Rodrigo Roa Duterte sa taumbayan kagabi para sa kaniyang regular Talk to the People Address. Ini-report ni Secretary Francisco Duque III kay Pangulo na nasa moderate risk classification na ang Pilipinas, habang nasa low risk naman ang mga ospital base sa total beds at ICU utilization rates. Ngunit tulad ng sinabi ng Pangulo, huwag magpakakumpiyansa; we are not over the hump yet.

Samantala, iniulat naman ni Vaccine Czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. ang nangyaring rollout ng pediatric vaccination program. Nagsimula na po kahapon, February 7, 2022, ang Resbakuna Kids. Ito ang bakunahan ng mga bata na may edad lima hanggang labing-isang taon gulang. Ang rollout events nitong programa ay sabay-sabay na isinagawa natin sa Philippine Heart Center, sa National Children’s Hospital, at Philippine Children’s Medical Center.  Kabilang din sa mga vaccination sites kahapon ang Fil-Oil Flying V Arena sa San Juan City, sa Manila Zoo, at sa SM North Edsa Sky Dome sa Quezon City. Ilan pong mga larawan ng nasabing event ay makikita ninyo po sa inyong screen.

Maliban sa Kalakhang Maynila, inilunsad din ito kahapon, February 7, sa Batangas Medical Center sa Lungsod ng Batangas, sa Southern Tagalog Regional Hospital sa Bacoor, Cavite at sa Cotabato Regional and Medical Center sa Cotabato City. As of February 7, 2022, 4 o’ clock PM, umabot po sa 7,416 ang total vaccines administered sa unang araw pa lamang ng Resbakuna Kids.

Ngayon araw, February 8, 2022, ay magkakaroon naman ng Resbakuna Kids sa Megamall, Mandaluyong City at sa Bataan General Hospital sa Balanga, Bataan.

Ii-expand naman natin ito sa iba’t ibang lugar sa Pilipinas. Magkakaroon ng launching this week sa Region III, ito po ay gaganapin sa Jose B. Lingad Memorial Regional Hospital sa San Fernando, Pampanga; ganoon din sa Bulacan Medical Center sa Malolos, Bulacan; at sa Dr. Paulino J. Garcia Memorial Research and Medical Center sa Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija; at Tarlac Provincial Hospital sa Tarlac; at sa Skyranch sa Tagaytay.

Hinihikayat po natin ang mga magulang, pabakunahan na po natin ang ating mga bata. Ayon sa datos ng Department of Health, 69% ng mga batang tinamaan ng COVID-19 noong Omicron surge ay may edad na 0 to 11 years old. Our children, like adults, can get COVID; and, like us, they benefit from the added protection provided by vaccines.

Sa mga may pangamba sa pagba-vaccinate ng mga bata, kung inyong matatandaan, nauna na natin bakunahan ang mga nasa 12 to 17 years old, nagsimula tayo noong Oktubre noong nakaraang taon and per official records, we have vaccinated 77% of our 12- to 17-year-old target population since October 2021. Based on the latest FDA report, of 8.8 million individuals with at least one dose, more than 99% did not report feeling any adverse effects after vaccination.

At reformulated po ang bakunang ituturok sa mga batang five years old to eleven years old. Sadyang ginawa ang pormulasyon para sa kanilang age group. Kaya inuulit po namin:  Ligtas, epektibo, at libre ang bakuna ng mga bata.  Nakikita po ito ‘di lamang sa Pilipinas, kung hindi sa ibang parte ng mundo.

Kailangan po ng consent ng magulang o guardian bago mabakunahan ang ating mga anak. Kaugnay nito, lilinawin lang natin ang balita kung saan sinabi na government may give consent to a child willing to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Nais po nating ipaalam sa publiko na ang nasabing probisyon sa polisiya ng pagbabakuna ay tinanggal na po. This provision has been rescinded and will no longer apply to the vaccination of minors 5 to 11 years of age.

Mamaya ay makakasama natin si Dra. Mary Ann Bunyi, National Immunization Technical Advisory Group for COVID-19 Vaccine Pediatric Infectious Disease, para pag-usapan ang pediatric vaccination.

Samantala, inanunsiyo rin sa Talk to the People ang National COVID-19 Vaccination Days Part 3 o ang Bayanihan, Bakunahan Part III. Ito ay gagawin sa February 10 and 11, 2022. Mamaya ay makakasama rin natin si Dra. Kezia Rosario, ang Co-Lead ng National Vaccination Operations Center para sa iba pang detalye ng Bayanihan, Bakunahan Part III.

Kaugnay nito, naglabas na ng Memorandum Circular ang Department of the Interior and Local Government, ayon kay Secretary Eduardo Año, kung saan kasama sa guidelines ang pagpaparami pa sa bilang ng vaccination sites at pagsisiguro sa proper distribution ng vaccines.

Meanwhile, we welcome the decision of the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 41 dismissing the petition against the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) in connection with unvaccinated onsite workers and those vaccinated against COVID-19. Nais natin lahat ang isang ligtas at malusog na kapaligiran at pamumuhay. Kung inyong matatandaan, nauna nang naglabas ng resolusyon ang IATF kung saan nakasaad na ang mga unvaccinated onsite workers and employees ay kailangan sumailalim sa regular RT-PCR testing.

Sa usaping bakuna: Mayroon na tayong 129,125,464 total doses administered as of February 7, 2022. Nasa mahigit 60.7 million, that’s 60.7 million na ang naka-first dose Habang nasa mahigit 60.1, that’s 60.1 million ang naka-complete dose o fully vaccinated ayon sa National COVID-19 Vaccination Dashboard. Nasa mahigit 8.2 million naman ang nakatanggap ng booster/additional doses.

Meanwhile, the DOH is encouraging those who generated their VaxCertPH certificates before February 7, 2022 to request for the new version of VaxCertPH online. In-update po ang VaxCertPH at nagkaroon ng bagong features. Iyong dating na-generate na certificates ay paso na po at hindi na po mababasa. So, visit vaxcert.doh.gov.ph or drop by your LGU to generate your new version ng VaxCertPH.

Pumunta naman po tayo sa COVID-19 update.

Patuloy ang pagbaba ng mga bagong kaso ng COVID-19, ayon sa February 7, 2022 COVID-19 Case Bulletin ng Department of Health. Nasa 6,835 ang mga bagong kaso ng COVID sa bansa. Sa bilang na ito, 95.7% ang mild at asymptomatic. Patuloy din ang pagbaba ng positivity rate.  Ito ay nasa 19.1%, that’s 1-9.1%. Habang nasa 95.3% naman ang porsiyento ng mga gumaling at mahigit 3.4 million na ang naka-recover. Malungkot naman naming ibinabalita sa inyo na kahapon ay mayroong labindalawang pumanaw dahil sa virus na ito. Our fatality rate is currently at 1.51%. This is lower than the 2% global average.

Sa estado naman ng ating mga ospital: Nasa below 45% na ang ating hospital care utilization rate; nasa 33% ang utilized ICU beds sa Metro Manila, habang 41% naman sa buong bansa; 30% po ang utilized isolation beds sa Metro Manila, habang nasa 37% sa buong bansa. 33% ang utilized ward beds sa Metro Manila, habang 36% sa buong bansa; 19% ang utilized ventilators sa Metro Manila, at 21% naman po sa buong bansa.

Samantala, nasa 45 PCR test kits, 28 antibody test kits, 44 professional-assisted antigen test kits, at tatlong antigen home self-testing kits ang nasertipika ng Food and Drug Administration (FDA), as of February 7, 2022, ayon kay FDA OIC Oscar Gutierrez.

On other matters, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea signed on Monday, February 7, 2022, Memorandum Circular No. 95, directing all government agencies, instrumentalities, departments, bureaus, offices, LGUs, GOCCs, GFIs, state universities and colleges as well as other chartered institutions to incorporate and integrate to their respective government processes, data bases, systems and services the PSN and Phil ID as well as other components and features of the PhilSys or Philippine Identification System.

Dito po nagtatapos ang ating opening statement.

Unahin na po natin siyempre ang ating mga guests ngayong hapon bago tayo tumungo sa mga katanungan ng MPC. Unahin natin si Dra. Mary Ann Bunyi.

DR. BUNYI: Magandang hapon po.

CABSEC. NOGRALES: Hi, Doc! Magandang hapon. Doc, let’s go to the pediatric vaccination. Bakit po mahalaga ang pediatric vaccination against COVID-19?  Paano po natin ma-a-assure ang mga magulang na kailangan at safe naman pong mabakunahan ang mga tsikiting laban sa COVID-19?

DR. BUNYI: Mayroon po akong munting pagtatanghal, CabSec. Puwede ko po bang i-share iyong slides ko?

CABSEC. NOGRALES: Yes. Go ahead, Doc. Please share your slides and go ahead with the presentation.

DR. BUNYI: Okay. Good afternoon to all. I just have three important points which I wish to share on this COVID-19 vaccination for children aged five to eleven years of age.

I have three discussion points: The COVID-19 vaccine provides an additional protection against COVID-19. Discussion point number two, a smaller vaccine dose will be given, and the third last point is COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective for children aged five to eleven years of age.

Point number one. The COVID-19 vaccine provides additional protection against COVID-19. It provides protection from getting the disease. Getting the disease to become severe, it prevents the disease to become severe and develop complications like what we call multi-system inflammatory syndrome in children

Although it is true that COVID-19 is mild in majority of children, children across all age groups can get seriously ill from the COVID-19 virus. Dreaded complication called multi-system inflammatory syndrome in children or what we shortly call MIS-C is most frequently seen among children five to eleven years old and can occur in even children who have been infected with COVID but remained asymptomatic or just had mild infections.

As of January 31, 2022, at the Centers for Disease Control, a total of 6,800 children have been reported to have developed this complication and the highest number was seen in the age five to eleven age group.

From June 2020 to February 2021, an article has mentioned that 614 children from 32 countries including low to middle countries have been reported to develop this complication of MIS-C.

In Metro Manila from 2020 to 2021, in three public tertiary hospitals, 34 children have been reported to develop MIS-C and 22 children from two big hospitals were reported. And the main ages that were observed were between five and eight years old.

So, aside from providing additional protection from getting the disease, getting the COVID-19 vaccine also aids children to return to their normal activities, return to in school learning, return to play, return to other social activities such as travel, vacationing, field trips, outdoor sports, camping, and other outdoor activities. And because children are believed to be contributors of viral spread in the community, there is a potential to reduce this spread in the community if children get the vaccine.

Point number 2, a smaller vaccine dose will be given, children aged 5 to 11 years of age will only receive 10 micrograms. It’s the orange cap vial, it’s 1/3 of the dose of the vaccine which is given in adults and in the teenagers, 2 doses will be given 21 days apart.

The choice of the 10 microgram was based on the result of the phase 2 to 3 clinical trial done in more than 2000 children wherein those who received the 10-microgram dose was just as effective as the response seen in young adults with fewer side effects.

The 3rd point is this vaccine is safe and effective. The side effects observed in the clinical trial were similar and fewer in frequencies as that was seen in adults, and the most frequently reported reactions were fever, chills, fatigue, and headache. And in terms of efficacy, the vaccine was found to have over 90% efficacy in preventing COVID-19 symptoms.

As for my last slide, I just want to share with you a real-world vaccine surveillance data which has been going on since the start of roll out of children 5 to 11 years old vaccinated against COVID-19 in the United States.

So if you see here, more than 8 million children have been vaccinated against COVID-19, and 97.6% have reported non-serious events out of 4,249 reports received as having adverse events, and just 2.4% as serious events, and the serious events and the most commonly reported serious events were fever and vomiting.

There were reports of Myocarditis but this was only 11 cases out of 8 million doses administered. So, this is less than 0.5% of all the total vaccine recipients. The other box shows to us another surveillance data, which is an active surveillance, showing to us the different adverse reactions reported by parents experienced by their children after receiving the vaccine.

So, if you will note, the most common was the pain on the injection site, followed by fatigue, and then headache, and then fever, and then myalgia. Okay, and these adverse reactions were more frequently reported during the week after the second dose. So, there were more frequent adverse reactions after the second dose, and the local and systemic reactions after the second dose were less frequently seen among the 5 to 11 years old than in those teenagers who received it. That’s… I think, that’s my last slide. Thank you very much.

CABSEC NOGRALES: Thank you so much, Dra. Bunyi. Please stay on board for possible questions from the media. Pumunta naman po tayo kay Dr. KZ Rosario. Dr. KZ, ilang milyon po ang target para sa Bayanihan Bakunahan Part 3 na gagawin sa February 10 and 11? Ano na po ang paghahanda na ginagawa ng NVOC para dito?

DR. KEZIA LORRAINE ROSARIO (NVOC): Magandang umaga po, Cabsec, at sa lahat ng nanunood. For our National Vaccination Days, or ‘yung Bayanihan Bakunahan Part 3 natin, medyo mataas ‘yung magiging target for now. 5 million ‘yung hinihikayat natin na magpabakuna kasama ‘yung booster doses at saka ‘yung primary doses ‘no.

So, ang ating talagang target ngayon is mataasan natin ‘yung coverage natin ng ating mga booster doses kasi alam natin na around 28 million na po ‘yung due na mabigyan ng kanila booster doses kung bilangin natin ‘yung recommended na interval sa pagbabakuna ‘no?

So, ang sinabi natin at least 3 months ‘no, from their second dose for the two-dose series, and then two months for the sequel dose series ‘no, puwede na sila mabigyan ng booster. Ngayon may 28 million tayo, so, talagang kailangan pa nating taasan ‘yung pagbabakuna natin ng ating mga booster doses.

So, with that po, ‘yun ‘yung nagiging target natin at saka iisa din ‘yan sa reason bakit tayo ay magkakaroon ng National Vaccination Days or Bayanihan Bakunahan. ‘Yung hinahanda natin ngayon is really all the sectors na may nakikita tayo especially sa economic sectors natin, ‘yung mga industrial zones natin, ‘yung mga industrial parts na economics zones, ‘yung mga companies, marami pa ring hindi nag… nagkakaroon ng kanilang booster doses or hindi pa mataas ‘yung coverage ng kanilang mga employees.

Kasama din ‘yung general public ‘no, marami na din tayong due na 18 years old and above na kailangan bakunahan. So, ito din ‘yung hinahanda natin ‘no, ‘yung mga eskwelahan, ‘yung mga eco zones, ‘yung ating mga universities, we are also exploring ‘yung clinics ‘no na paraan sa pagbibigay ng pagbabakuna. Even doing the pharmacies, alam natin may mga limitations din tayo doon but we are expanding as much as we can, and with this, National Vaccination Days kasama din ‘yung… similar to what we have been doing in the previous Bayanihan Bakunahan, ini-involve talaga natin ‘yung ating mga sectors na especially those with heath human resource ‘no.

Kasama dito ‘yung ating AFP na may kapasidad to administer the vaccines, ‘yung PNP, BFP, BJMP, and our uniformed personnel, and then also ‘no, ang hindi natin kinakalimutan ‘yung other government agencies na hindi lang po hinihikayat natin silang magpabakuna na ‘yung lahat ng government officials, kasama din sila sa participation ng ating pagbabakuna ngayon. So, we’re involving DOLE, DEPED, and the rest of the government agencies.

CABSEC NOGRALES: Thank you, Doc Kezia. Also please stay on board para sa possible questions mula sa media. Tumungo naman po tayo kay Usec. Rocky para sa katanungan mula Malacañang Press Corps.

USEC. IGNACIO: Good afternoon, CabSec. Good afternoon, Doc Kezia and kay Doc Bunyi.

Ang una pong tanong mula kay Ace Romero ng Philippine Star: How will the President’s decision not to endorse any candidate affect the PDP-Laban selection of the presidential candidate it will support? Posible kayang wala na ring iendorso sa pagkapangulo ang partido? Similar question with Sam Medenilla ng Business Mirror.

CABSEC NOGRALES: Patuloy pa rin itong pinag-uusapan ng PDP-Laban. Iyong national executive committee pati iyong mga leaders ng PDP-Laban dahil ang sinabi po ni Pangulo kagabi ay at this time wala pa siyang sinusuportahan na kandidato. Subalit sinabi niya rin, “Unless there is a compelling reason for me to change my mind.” iyan po ‘yung sinabi ni Pangulo. So patuloy pa rin po iyong ginagawang consensus-building at pagdesisyon ng PDP-Laban tungkol po diyan sa desisyon na iyan.

USEC. IGNACIO: Opo. Second question po ni Ace Romero ng Philippine Star: May mga panawagan para sa gobyerno na mag-issue daw po ng hold departure order laban kay Pastor Quiboloy habang pending ang extradition request ng US. Iuutos ba ito ng Palasyo sa DOJ o ipapaubaya na lang sa DOJ?

CABSEC NOGRALES: Nagsalita na po si Secretary Menard Guevarra ng Department of Justice tungkol po diyan. Ang sinabi po ni Sec. Menard is, and I quote: “We can issue an immigration lookout bulletin order motu propio. Urgency is the key factor. We’ll play it by ear as we examine the evidence before us and as outside events unfold.” Iyan po iyong quote ‘no coming from Secretary Menard Guevarra ng Department of Justice.

USEC. IGNACIO: Opo. Tanong po mula kay Kris Jose ng Remate/Remate Online: Nakausap ninyo na ba ang Pangulo kung makakadalo siya sa proclamation rally ng kaniyang anak na si vice presidential candidate Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio sa Philippine Arena na nakatakda ngayong araw? Similar question with Jopel Pelenio ng DWIZ.

CABSEC NOGRALES: As per Appointments Office ng Malacañang, wala pong ganiyang entry sa kaniyang official calendar as of last night.

USEC. IGNACIO: Thank you po. Sunod po niyang tanong: Umpisa na ngayon ang election campaign. May panawagan ba ang Malacañang sa mga kandidato?

CABSEC NOGRALES: Opo. Let’s keep our elections fair, orderly, peaceful and safe. Sundin lang po natin ang lahat ng mga guidelines pagdating sa minimum public health standards at siyempre iyong mga guidelines din po ng Comelec – let’s follow and obey all the rules, regulations and laws of the land. And ang isa ring warning ni Pangulo kung napakinggan natin kagabi, ang sinabi niya is do not let drug money penetrate this election and this ongoing campaign.

USEC. IGNACIO: Opo. Tanong pa rin po ni Kris Jose ng Remate/Remate Online: Reaksiyon ng Pangulo daw po sa pagbibitiw ni MMDA Chair Benhur Abalos at mas piniling maging campaign manager ni presidential candidate Bongbong Marcos?

CABSEC NOGRALES: Well first of all, the Palace confirms that the Office of the President received the resignation letter of MMDA Chair or former MMDA Chair Benjamin Abalos Jr.

And we’d like to also state that Chairman Abalos served the Duterte administration with professionalism and dedication. We thank him for his invaluable service to the nation particularly during the challenging time of COVID-19 and the entry of different variants of concern and our careful shift to alert level systems where he played a key role in coordinating the official response with different LGUs of Metro Manila.

We wish Attorney Abalos all the best and God speed.

USEC. IGNACIO: Thank you po. Tanong mula kay Rose Novenario ng Hataw: May posibilidad kaya na maapektuhan ang diplomatic relations ng Pilipinas sa US dahil sa pagnanais ng Amerika na arestuhin ang spiritual adviser ni Pangulong Duterte na si Pastor Apollo Quiboloy gaya nang muntik niyang pagkansela sa Visiting Forces Agreement o VFA nang hindi magbigay ng US visa si Senator Ronald ‘Bato’ Dela Rosa noong Enero 2020 sanhi ng extrajudicial killings sa drug war?

CABSEC NOGRALES: Let me refer to the statement of Secretary Menard Guevarra ‘no. He said that and I quote: “We have not received any official communication from the US government. Extradition cannot be done motu propio especially if the subject is our own citizen. Any communication will be coursed through diplomatic channels.”

USEC. IGNACIO: Opo. Sunod po niyang tanong: Puwede bang gawing dahilan ng ilang government agency ang COA audit observation memorandum para hindi ibigay ang buong retirement benefits ng nagretirong empleyado?

CABSEC NOGRALES: Let me cite a law pertaining to retiring employees with pending cases ‘no. “In case of retiring government employees with pending cases and whose retirement benefits are being lawfully withheld due to possible pecuniary liability. The head of agency where such case is pending shall ensure that the said case shall be terminated and/or resolved within a period of three months from the date of retirement of the concerned government employee. Provided that in case the concerned agency fails to terminate and/or resolve the case within the said period without any justifiable reason, the retirement benefits due to the employee shall be immediately released to him or her without prejudice to the ultimate resolution of the case except when the delay is deliberately caused by the retiring employee himself or herself.” Iyan po ‘yung nakasaad sa batas.

USEC. IGNACIO: Okay po. Tanong po mula kay Sam Medenilla ng Business Mirror: Ano ang lalamanin ng post pandemic roadmap being proposed by Secretary Vince Dizon at ano po ang magiging pinagkaiba nito sa National Employment Recovery Plan at saka sa National Action Plan 5 ng NEDA?

CABSEC NOGRALES: Kasama po iyon sa National Action Plan 5. So many of the components doon sa binabanggit ni Secretary Vince Dizon ay magiging kasama or kabilang ng National Action Plan 5 or NAP 5 natin.

Iyong sa National Employment Recovery Strategy po natin, mayroon na po tayong NERS strategy at program at ito po ay kinu-coordinate ng ating NERS Task Force – NERS stands for National Employment Recovery Strategy – so ongoing na po iyong sa NERS. Iyong binabanggit naman ni Sec. Vince ay magiging kabilang at kasama ng ating National Action Plan Phase 5.

USEC. IGNACIO: Opo. Sunod pong tanong ni Sam Medenilla ng Business Mirror: Ano ba ang projection ng IATF expert panels pagdating sa impact ng campaign period sa COVID-19 cases? Are the said cases expected to increase, stagnate or remain the same during the campaign period?

CABSEC NOGRALES: Based on our latest projections ano, iyong projections po natin is that dapat makita natin na pababa nang pababa na po iyong kaso ng COVID-19 sa ating bansa ngayong Pebrero especially moving towards iyong katapusan ng Pebrero ‘no. Pero siyempre dependent pa rin po itong projections na ito sa pag-comply po natin sa minimum public health standards and our vaccination rate, our current vaccination rate.

So if all goes well, kailangan makita po natin na pababa nang pababa po ang kaso ng bagong COVID-19 dito sa ating bansa ngayong Pebrero. But again, nasa kamay po natin iyan especially nga na mag-uumpisa na nga po ang national campaign for national candidates. So we are also very confident that the Comelec will enforce the guidelines, the rules and regulations when it comes to campaigning to ensure na hindi tayo magkakaroon ng superspreader events.

So nasa kamay po natin iyan ‘no, mga kababayan, ang pagsunod natin sa minimum public health standards, ang pagbabakuna po natin ‘no, ang pagpapabakuna rin ng ating mga kabataan hanggang 12 to 17 at ngayon, five to eleven years old, ang pagbo-booster shots din po natin and then of course ang enforcement din po ng ating mga guidelines mula sa Comelec.

So we hope that the projections will prove us right. Pero, again, it really depends on our cooperation nating lahat.

USEC. IGNACIO: Opo. Tanong mula kay Ivan Mayrina ng GMA News: May we get a comment on Pastor Quiboloy being on the FBI’s most wanted list, the Pastor being a known close friend and spiritual adviser of the President?

CABSEC NOGRALES: Yes again, I will reiterate ‘no iyong sinabi ni Secretary Menard Guevarra kahapon that we can issue an immigration lookout bulletin order motu proprio. We will play it by ear, as examine the evidence before us and as outside events unfold and of course iyong communications that will be coursed through diplomatic channels.

USEC. IGNACIO: Opo. Second question niya: Pastor Quiboloy said that there is an assassination plot against him. Are law enforcement agencies looking into this?

CABSEC NOGRALES: Any assassination attempt or plot against any individual or person for that matter ay siyempre a concern of government. Pero kailangan po makipag-ugnayan agad sa ating mga law enforcement agencies.

USEC. IGNACIO: Opo. Sunod pong tanong ni Ivan Mayrina ng GMA News: Who will replace Benhur Abalos as MMDA Chair? 

CABSEC NOGRALES: Hintayin na lang po natin kung any appointments or kung may ia-appoint si Pangulo, Pangulong Duterte para sa MMDA Chair. In the meantime, ang OIC po natin sa MMDA at si Atty. Romando Artes.

USEC. IGNACIO: Opo. Tanong pa rin po ni Ivan Mayrina ng GMA News: Senator Hontiveros calls the President backing of Cusi on Malampaya deal unacceptable, ano daw po ang Palace reaction?

CABSEC NOGRALES: Well, let’s go back to the statement of the President. First of all, sinabi ni Pangulo, the government values the critical role and contribution ng Malampaya gas field to our energy security. Hindi po siya papayag na ma-politicize po ito.

Pangalawa, investments whether foreign or local are vital to our economy and we have to maintain an environment conducive to the entry of investors at hindi rin po papayagan ni Pangulo na ma-politicize din po ito.

At the end of the day, ang importante is that we protect our national interest and not let our national interests be politicized.

USEC. IGNACIO: Opo. Tanong po ni Llanesca Panti ng GMA News: Alam po ba ni President Duterte kung nasaan si Pastor Quiboloy? Kung alam po niya, hindi po ba legal obligation niya na i-report ito sa American Embassy given the pending charges?  

CABSEC NOGRALES: Again, we will pass through the diplomatic channels. Any communications should pass through the diplomatic channels. The Department of Justice has already spoken to the issue.

USEC. IGNACIO: Okay, thank you, CabSec. Iyan po ang mga nakuha nating tanong sa ating kasamahan sa media, Sa Malacañang Press Corps. Thank you Doc. Kezia and Doc. Bunyi.

CABSEC NOGRALES: Thank you so much, USec. Rocky. At lubos din po ang ating pagpapasalamat kay Dra. Mary Ann Bunyi at Dra. Kezia Rosario.

Pamilyang bakunado at protektado: Ito po ang ating objective. Our health experts all agree that vaccination remain our long-term solution against the effect brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kaya naman patuloy ang ating panawagan sa ating mga kababayan na magpabakuna na po kayo. At sa mga magulang ng mga batang five to eleven years old, kung available na po ang bakuna para sa inyong mga anak sa inyong kinaroroonan at qualified ng tumanggap ito, pabakunahan na po natin sila. Ligtas, epektibo at higit sa lahat libre ang mga bakuna kontra COVID-19. Huwag sana nating palampasin ang pagkakataong makaambag sa ating kampanya sa pagligtas ng buhay at komunidad.

Patuloy po tayong makiisa, ipagpatuloy po natin ang pakikipagtulungan. Tama si Presidente, we are not yet over the hump. But with everyone’s help and cooperation, we soon will be.

Maraming, maraming salamat po. God bless.

 

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SOURCE: PCOO-NIB (News and Information Bureau-Data Processing Center)