‘Walang special:’ Moreno urges tighter border control as Omicron threat grows

Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Presidential aspirant Manila Mayor Isko Moreno on Tuesday called for stringent border enforcement in the country to ensure that all rules are applied equally in the face of the looming threat posed by the Omicron COVID-19 variant.

“Kailangan na vigilant, kailangan strict implementation of our border control. When I say strict, it goes for everyone,” Moreno told reporters after a wreath-laying ceremony during the celebration of Andres Bonifacio’s 158th Birth Anniversary at the Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila.

(We need to be vigilant. We need to have a strict implementation of our border control. When I say strict, it goes for everyone.)

“The rules apply to everyone: mahirap, mayaman, banyaga, o mga kababayan natin, dapat iisa ang rule, walang special. Baka kasi malusutan tayo and all we need is one infected person to spread it around,” he added.

(The rules apply to everyone: the poor, the rich, foreigners, or even our countrymen, there should be one set of rules that we follow, no one is special. Because a carrier might get past us, and all we need is one infected person to spread it around.)

Meanwhile, Moreno said the local government continues to assess planned events ahead of the Christmas season in December and the Feast of the Black Nazarene in January next year to determine whether or not they will still be pushed through amid fears of the more Omicron variant.

“We are ready. What we had last March in terms of capacity is still the same capacity that we have today in the city of Manila. In fact lumaki pa nga dahil dumami pa ‘yung gamot namin [In fact, it increased because our supply of medicine also increased],” he added.

Further, Moreno said business establishments in the city should remain open.

He urged Manila residents and workers to strictly observe the minimum health protocols so they can go out and go back to work safely.

“At the rate we are going, gusto ko bukas ang negosyo, gusto ko bukas makalabas ang mga tao [I want businesses to remain open and people to openly go out],” he said.

“Basta mag-pabukuna lang kayo at pag nakakaramdam kayo ng kakaiba, magpa-test kayo tutal libre naman [I encourage you to get vaccinated, get tested since it’s free]. Life must go on. Learn to live with COVID-19 and go back to work safely,” he added.

Moreno also said the city fully supports the government’s three-day national vaccination drive, saying this will serve as a “big boost” to the country’s pandemic response.

“We urge our people to have themselves vaccinated immediately in preparation for the new Omicron variant,” he added.

After the wreath-laying ceremony, Moreno also met hundreds of motorcycle riders who pledged their support for his presidential run.

abc