LGUs urged to keep vigilance vs COVID-19

CEBU, Philippines —  The Department of the Interior and Local Government has rallied all local government units to be more vigilant and reinforce measures against COVID-19 to avert the projected increase in cases until the end of the year.

The Department of Health (DOH) projected over 10,600 daily COVID-19 cases in the National Capital Region (NCR) by October of this year.

DILG Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos, Jr. said that DOH’s projection is a clear warning that all LGUs should take seriously.

“We cannot let our guards down. The projected number of cases in NCR is a clear sign for all LGUs in the country to step up their campaign because COVID-19 can again trickle to your own backyards. We must work collectively para matuldukan na ang pandemya ito,” Abalos said in a statement.

Abalos said LGUs must not relax and continue to implement measures to mitigate the possibility of a surge in the coming months.

Abalos added that DOH’s projection in NCR can even extend to other parts of the country until the end of the year.

“Marami tayong kababayan ang naghahanap-buhay sa Metro Manila. Ito ang economic center ng bansa, kaya dapat malakas ang depensa nito at mapigilan natin ang pagtaas ng kaso na maaaring kumalat sa ibang lugar sa bansa,” Abalos said.

As of August 11, 2022, NCR leads the regions in the country with the most number of COVID-19 cases registering 15,804 new cases in the last 14 days followed by CALABARZON with 10,049; Central Luzon with 5,102; and, Western Visayas with 2,760 cases.

The DOH attributed the projected number to the low administration of booster doses, low compliance to prescribed health and safety protocols, increase in human mobility, and fast transmission of Omicron subvariants.

Abalos further urged everyone to support the government’s vaccination efforts such as PinasLakas.

“Vaccines have carried us through the murk of the pandemic. We are able to go back to our old ways because of them kaya sana ay makita ng ating mga kababayan ang malaking tulong na ito,” he added.

PinasLakas is DOH’s campaign that aims to immunize 23.8 million or at least 50 percent of the eligible population with the COVID-19 booster shot within the first 100 days of the Marcos administration.

Abalos further urged all LGUs in the country to ensure that they are not lenient in enforcing minimum public health standards (MPHS) and are proactive in their booster shot and vaccination drives. — FPL (FREEMAN)