MANILA, Philippines — Amid the challenges faced by the country and the entire world this year, Vice President Leni Robredo encouraged Filipinos to unite and share the message of hope this New Year.
“We have faced severe challenges in the past year. The pandemic struck and a series of catastrophes followed. Many of us will be celebrating the New Year for the first time without our loved ones who died,” she said yesterday in her New Year message in Filipino.
“But this day – the first day of the first month of a new year – reminds us that there is always a new beginning; a chance to recover, with tomorrow promising that we can make it more comfortable, more prosperous, more humane than yesterday,” she added.
Robredo said her wish is for the homes of every Filipino to be filled with hope for the coming year. She encouraged everyone to share this hope with one another, especially those in the fringes of society.
The Vice President also reminded every Filipino to continue working together to address challenges, particularly the pandemic that significantly affected the lives of many.
“The virus will not disappear just because we are going to change the calendar. Let us continue to be careful and follow health protocols,” she said.
For Robredo, it was the unity of Filipinos that helped the country get through 2020.
“May we unite even more to welcome 2021 together, with greater anticipation for the future as we forge a united nation of the Philippines,” she added.
Meanwhile, President Duterte’s spokesman yesterday expressed hope that the COVID-19 pandemic would end this year as he urged Filipinos to make 2021 “a year of healing, recovery and bouncing back.”
In his New Year message, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said Filipinos faced daunting challenges in 2020 but were able to carry on because of their resilient spirit.
“We hope to see an end to the pandemic and continue the pursuit for a stronger and healthier Philippines, which would only be realized if the government and citizens would work together to achieve this goal,” Roque said in a statement.
“Let us therefore make Year 2021 as a year of healing, recovery and bouncing back. Together and united, we will heal and recover as one,” he added.
Roque said the administration has identified geographical and sectoral priorities for COVID-19 vaccination.
Negotiations and discussions with vaccine manufacturers and tripartite agreements with the government, the private sector, and allied governments are ongoing, he added.
“Following the Philippine national vaccine roadmap, the earliest rollout of a vaccine is expected in the first quarter of next year. We are indeed on track and this gives us a sense of optimism,” the Palace spokesman said. “We welcome 2021 with renewed hope, courage and inspiration as we bid farewell to 2020 bringing with us its valuable lessons and memories.”
Despite the latest developments in vaccines, Presidential Communications Operations Office chief Secretary Martin Andanar expressed belief that the Filipino people will still have to brace for more difficulties related to the coronavirus pandemic.
As he greeted the nation during the new year, Andanar urged the public to remain strong as the country and the rest of the world battles COVID-19.
“As we welcome 2021, we face the adjustments and some degree of uncertainty brought by ‘new normal’. Although our collective fight is far from over, may we remain firmly united and unyielding in meeting head on any difficulty that this year holds,” he said. – Christina Mendez, Edu Punay, Evelyn Macairan, Neil Jayson Servallos