Malacañan Palace as seen from across the Pasig River. (Photo from malacanang.gov.ph)
MANILA, Philippines — As 2021 approaches, Malacañang expressed hope that it would be the year for the Philippines to heal and recover from the challenges it faced in 2020.
“We welcome 2021 with renewed hope, courage and inspiration as we bid farewell to 2020 bringing with us its valuable lessons and memories,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said Thursday in his New Year message.
“Let us therefore make Year 2021 as a year of healing, recovery and bouncing back. Together and united, we will heal and recover as one,” he added.
2020 challenges
“The challenges we faced as a nation in 2020 were daunting but because of the resilient Filipino spirit, we fought and carried on,” he added.
2020 saw the nation gripped and pounded by the COVID-19 pandemic and calamities such as the eruption of Taal Volcano, earthquakes, and typhoons.
WATCH: A year of unimaginable misery: The 2020 COVID-19 pandemic
“We hope to see an end to the pandemic and continue the pursuit for a stronger and healthier Philippines, which would only be realized if the government and citizens would work together to achieve this goal,” Roque said.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque/ Screenshot from PCOO Facebook video
COVID-19 vaccination program
The Palace official noted that priorities for the expected rollout of the COVID-19 vaccination program as early as the first quarter of 2021 were already identified and negotiations with vaccine manufacturers and governments are still ongoing.
Photo from REUTERS via The Straits Times/Asia News Network
“We are indeed on track and this gives us a sense of optimism,” said Roque.