MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte warned that he will be compelled to impose another “strict lockdown” if the public would not follow health protocols amid the detection of new COVID-19 variants in the country.
In a taped speech aired Tuesday, Duterte said “obedience” is the country’s hope in ending this pandemic.
“Alam mo ang pag-asa natin is really the obedience. So if I’m strict and kung may improvement man ngayon sa larangan ng ating mga siyudad, there’s a sharp drop of cases, it’s because they followed the protocols,” Duterte said.
(You know what, our hope is really obedience. So if I’m strict and if there’s any improvement now in our cities, there’s a sharp drop in cases, it’s because they followed the protocols.)
“Kasi pag hindi, then mapipilitan again ako na to impose lockdowns and everything at mas strikto ang gobyerno,” he added.
(Because if not, I will be forced again to impose lockdowns and everything and the government will become stricter.)
The President further pointed out that the presence of new COVID-19 variants may add to his decision in imposing stricter measures.
“‘Pag di sumusunod, may resurgence nanaman tapos new variants. Mapipilitan talaga ako mag impose ng lockdown maybe stricter this time because di natin alam anong variants yan, pag-aralan muna yan,” said Duterte.
(If they don’t follow, there’s another resurgence and new variants, I will be really forced to impose a lockdown, maybe stricter this time because we don’t know those variants, we have to study it.)
The so-called NCR Plus comprising Metro Manila, Rizal, Bulacan, Cavite and Laguna has been downgraded to general community quarantine with heightened restrictions after trends have gone down due to stricter measures.
With the ongoing vaccinations, the President reminded those who have received the COVID-19 vaccine to remain careful as it does not mean they are safe from catching the coronavirus.
“It does not follow that because you have the COVID-19 vaccine, it does not follow that you cannot be sick again because you can get reinfected pati mga bagong variants ngayon which makes our job doubly hard to do,” Duterte said.
The Philippines has so far confirmed at least 12 cases of the COVID-19 variant first detected in India.