Archbishop urges Tacloban residents to get vaccinated vs COVID-19

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Philippines — Archbishop John Du of Palo in Leyte urged the public to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

The prelate disclosed that he had already been inoculated with the help of Tacloban Mayor Alfred Romualdez.

“Don’t be afraid to get the vaccine. I am done with my second dose. Thanks to the city government and to Mayor Romualdez,” he said in his homily during the Pontifical Mass for this city’s 132nd annual fiesta at the Santo Niño Church on Wednesday, June 30.

“Of course, we believe in God but God said that we help you but you have to help yourself also. Don’t say that God will take care of me. If you are exposing yourself to danger and you are not careful, the Lord will say that you are careless,” he added.

Du particularly directed his message to medical workers and frontliners, those with existing illnesses, and seniors.

“Have faith. Our government is working very hard for our own welfare, for our own good. We have to cooperate,” he said.

Tacloban has been experiencing a surge in COVID-19 for the past weeks. It currently has 3,851 cases, according to the Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday.

Romualdez repeatedly called on Taclobanons to always follow all the minimum health protocols to prevent the spread of the virus.

He insisted that no form of quarantine could help slow down the infection if the public does not follow the protocols being imposed by the DOH.

“It boils down to discipline,” Romualdez said.

[atm]