TAGCAWAYAN, QUEZON — Amidst the global threat of the Covid-19 Omicron variant, senatorial aspirant Guillermo Lorenzo ‘Gaylor’ Eleazar is urging Filipinos to continue adhering to the minimum health safety protocols set by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) despite recent progress in the country’s pandemic response and the decreasing number of active Covid-19 cases across the country.
“Pinapaalalahanan ko po ang ating mga kababayan at publiko na ipagpatuloy natin ang pag-iingat at sundin ang mga required health protocol, partikular na sa mga public gatherings o pagtitipun-tipon, tulad ng mga family celebration, social function at iba pang mga aktibidad na dadaluhan ng maraming tao,” Eleazar, who once headed Task Force Covid Shield, stressed in a statement while visiting his hometown in Tagcawayan, Quezon.
The former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief met with several local officials and his town mates, among them farmers and some fisher folk who warmly welcomed the retired general and vowed to support to his senatorial bid under Partido Reporma bannered by senator Panfilo ‘Ping’ Lacson for president and Senate President Vicente ‘Tito’ Sotto III for vice-president.
Eleazar stressed that while the country has reached several milestones in its pandemic response, the threat of Covid-19 is still a ‘clear and present danger’.
“Iwasan po natin ang pagiging kampante kahit pa bumababa na ang bilang ng mga kaso ng Covid. Kahit pinaluwag na ng mga awtoiridad ang mga restriksyon ay kailangan pa rin tayong mag-ingat para hindi masayang ang mga pinaghirapan natin sa nakaraang halos dalawang taon,” he pointed out.
As of Wednesday, more than 94.2 million Covid-19 vaccines have been administered in the country with 39.5 million Filipinos fully vaccinated and according to the Department of Health (DoH), the country is now at minimal risk for the spread of the severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 or SARS-CoV-2 even as the National Capital Region has been classified as ‘low-risk’ and the utilization rate of Covid-19 beds and intensive care units have also fallen below 50 percent.
Despite these developments, the Partido Reporma ‘senatoriable’ urged fellow Filipinos to exercise caution, particularly when organizing large gatherings during the holidays and political rallies during the election season.
“Nauunawaan natin ang tradisyong Pinoy patungkol sa Kapaskuhan at iginagalang naman natin ang karapatan ng ating mga mamamayan na magpahayag ng kanilang saloobing political subalit kailangan talaga nating maging maingat dahil para din naman sa ating proteksyon ‘yan at kaligtasan,” he enthused.
