Velasco on Independence Day: Filipinos should take vaccines to free country from COVID-19

Speaker Lord Allan Velasco on Independence Day urged Filipinos to use the COVID-19 vaccines as weapons in taking up the fight against the virus in order to free the Philippines from COVID-19.

“While we continue to navigate the challenges brought by the pandemic, may we be reminded of the immense sacrifices our ancestors made and what they had to pay for the freedom we enjoy. We, too, have to take up the fight to free our country from COVID-19,” Velasco said in a statement.

“We are fortunate enough that more than one year after the pandemic started, we now have the most important weapon to fight back against the coronavirus: the life-saving vaccine. We only have to make sure that we get as many Filipinos as possible vaccinated to achieve herd immunity and bring this health crisis to a decisive end,” he added.

Just like what the Filipino ancestors did more than a century ago, the House chief emphasized that Filipinos should work together and build on each other’s strengths to overcome the health crisis. 

Velasco likewise gave honor to the frontliners who sacrificed their lives for the Filipino people amid the pandemic.

“As we commemorate the 123rd anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence amid the raging pandemic, let us take a moment to remember and honor all those who have fought for our freedom and the frontliners who cared for us amidst the health crisis, and to understand the meaning of independence and cherish it with responsibility as it did not come easy to us,” he said.

“They paid for our freedom with their hard work and sacrifice. Now, we must work hard to create a better nation for generations that follow. Happy Independence Day!” he ended.

The country marked the 123rd Independence Day on Saturday with flag ceremonies and wreath laying in Rizal Park and other areas.

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier issued Proclamation No. 1107 declaring June 12 as a regular holiday.

On Friday, the Philippines reported 6,686 new infections, bringing the total number of COVID-19 cases in the country to 1,300,349. —KG, GMA News