DAVAO CITY — President Rodrigo Duterte again called on the Filipinos to persevere and be patient as the government is working hard to prevent the spread of the coronavirus-19 pandemic while the world awaits the vaccine.
On Tuesday, July 21, Duterte talks to the people after holding a meeting with the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) core members at the Malago Clubhouse in Malacañang and emphasized, “In the meantime, ang importante talaga dito is your perseverance. That’s the word. You must persevere during this time. Simplehin ko, patience. Tutal dadating rin ‘yan,” he told the nation in a public address. “Marunong ang Diyos. Alam niya hindi tayo niya pababayaan especially Pilipinas kasi Kristiyanos tayo.”
Duterte said the government is doing its best with the help of many dedicated government officials as he expressed optimism that a vaccine for COVID-19 could be developed by the end of the year as many countries race to come up with such a vaccine.
“Sa Russia, binitawan na nila. I’m sure China has already won, ang Amerika . . . ang takot ko lang nga noon kasi nga mahirap tayo, and we need so many millions also. As a matter of fact, I would need about 110 million para mapainom ko sa lahat,” he said.
“Para sa mga plano natin, put it something like hanggang towards the end of the year. But if there is a thing that develops which is really good for you — mag-utang ako. Magpabili ako kung saan magpabili ng lupa para ipangbili ko ng medisina,” Duterte added.
And while countries wait for a vaccine, he said people must strictly follow health protocols such as mask-wearing and observance of physical distancing.
He said the government is ready to provide people with masks especially those who don’t have the capability to spend for face covering.
“Kung wala kayo, I will try to buy as many as I can afford kung kaya ko, ibigay namin iyan sa inyo libre but wear it,” he said.
The country has posted 69,898 confirmed COVID-19 cases, barely two weeks before the month of July ends. On Monday, the Department of Health (DOH) reported an additional 1,521 coronavirus-infected patients.-Newsline.ph
