Marcos urges Ormoc residents to take booster shots vs. COVID-19

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Thursday called on the residents of Ormoc City to take booster shots as the threat of COVID-19 pandemic remains.

Marcos was in Ormoc to witness the 75th Ormoc City Diamond Charter Day celebration. He emphasized that if people would avail booster doses as added protection against the coronavirus, more businesses will open and that means more job opportunities for the residents.

"I call on the people of Ormoc City to actively participate… Mayroon pa rin tayong kailangang pag-alagaan. Kung minsan dahil… ‘Yan ganyan, wala na tayong masks. Hindi na tayo masyadong maingat ay nakakalimutan natin nandiyan pa ang pandemya. Medyo mahina na pero mas hihina ‘yan kung tayo po ay magpa-booster shot," Marcos said in his speech.

(We still need to be cautious. Sometimes, we forget to wear masks. We are no longer careful and we sometimes forget that the pandemic is still there. We can defeat the pandemic more if we avail [of] booster shots.)

"So gagamitin ko na lang itong aking pagkakataon na magsalita sa inyo. Magpa-booster shot po kayo para mabawasan na ‘yan lahat ng infection, mabuksan na natin lahat ng negosyo. Wala ng protocol, wala ng plastic, wala ng kung ano-ano pa," he added.

(I would like to take this opportunity to convince you to avail booster shots so that we can fight the infection, reopen our businesses. By that, we can stop some of our protocols.)

"Bukas lahat ang restawran, bukas lahat ng mga tindahan, bukas lahat ng mga paghahanap-buhay ng ating mga kababayan. Kaya’t maimamadali ‘yan kapag tayo ay sumama sa PinasLakas vaccination campaign against COVID-19," Marcos said.

(Restaurants and shops will open as well as the work of our citizens. This will be hastened if we join the PinasLakas vaccination campaign against COVID-19.)

Marcos said booster vaccination rate in Ormoc City is still low, noting that it should be increased to at least 50% to attain the "wall of immunity."

"Mababa pa tayo sa booster uptake. Dito sa inyo, 33 percent. Pero alam ko kaya ninyong paakyatin ‘yan. It is essential that we increase that rate to 50 percent para mayroon tayong tinatawag na wall of immunity. Magtulungan tayo. Napakahalaga nito at marami tayong magagawa kaagad," Marcos said.

(We are still low in our booster uptake here, with just 33%. But, I know that you can still make this rate higher. It is essential that we increase that rate to 50% in order to have wall of immunity. Let us help each other. This is very important.)

"So i-prioritize natin ang ating health (let us prioritize our health) so that with renewed vigor and with renewed strength, we can act unrestrained in our efforts to bring forth a better, a brighter, and more united Philippines for everyone," he added.

Aside from his call for the residents to take booster doses, Marcos also expressed hope that Ormoc City "will bind its people and sustain its programs and projects that are primarily geared to attain the crisis that we face that of food security, that of energy supply, and the change in the global climate."

He recalled the effects of Typhoon Yolanda that hit Leyte province in 2013. He also hailed the implementation of the city's Local Climate Change Action Plan 2016-2025, which, according to him, "helps the executive branch of government to deliver our mandate, to boost civic engagement, and to raise public awareness."

"‘Yung mga dumadaan na bagyo ay talagang kailangan natin isipin nang mabuti kung papaano natin babaguhin ang ating pamumuhay. Kung papaano natin babaguhin ang ating mga ginagawa upang tayo naman ay masagot natin itong global warming na nararamdaman natin," Marcos said.

(With the previous typhoons that hit our country, we need to think how can we change our lifestyle, how can we change our practices to address the effects of global warming.) 

Meanwhile, Marcos also visited the Ormoc Airport, which was rehabilitated by the Duterte administration.

During his visit in Leyte province, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. made an ocular inspection at the Ormoc Airport, which was rehabilitated by the Duterte administration, Palace says. ????: OPS @gmanews @gmanewsbreaking pic.twitter.com/RaA4RHYE2L

— ????Anna Felicia (@annafelicia_) October 20, 2022

The President earlier said airports located in other regions should be fully utilized so that some flights no longer need to pass through Manila. — RSJ/VBL, GMA News