LGUs urged to reinforce measures, be vigilant vs. COVID-19 ahead of projected increase in cases

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Friday urged local government units (LGUs) to be more vigilant and reinforce measures against COVID-19 ahead of the projected increase in cases.

Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos issued the call after the Department of Health (DOH) said that COVID-19 infections are projected to increase at least 19,000 per day by August 31.

Abalos said LGUs must guard their respective localities to address the possible surge in the coming days.

“Kami po ay nananawagan sa ating LGUs na bantayang mabuti ang mga kaso ng COVID sa kanilang nasasakupan (We are calling on our LGUs to monitor the COVID-19 cases in their respective areas). We are still in a pandemic and we count on our local officials to lead this war, especially in the coming months where alarming numbers of COVID-19 cases are projected,” Abalos said in a statement.

“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,” he added.

(Many of our fellow Filipinos have jobs in Metro Manila. This is the economic center of the country, so its defense must be strong and we can prevent the increase of cases that may spread to other parts of the country.)

The Philippines' daily new COVID-19 case tally was back in the 4,000 range on Thursday, as 4,533 new infections were recorded by the Health Department.

In the recent two weeks, the National Capital Region (NCR) topped the list with 15,700, followed by Calabarzon with 10,098, Central Luzon with 5,189, Western Visayas with 2,842, and Central Visayas with 2,167.

Abalos also urged the public to support the government’s vaccination efforts, including the “PinasLakas” campaign, in a bid to ramp up the booster coverage in the country amid the rising COVID-19 infections.

“I urge all of you 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,” the DILG Chief said.

However, as the campaign failed to meet its daily goals since its kick off, the DOH said they need to increase their target, and boost 443,892 individuals and vaccinate 20,774 senior citizens daily to achieve the target by October 8. — Richa Noriega/RSJ, GMA News