FILE PHOTO Speaker Lord Allan Velasco. Photo from the Office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives
MANILA, Philippines — Speaker Lord Allan Velasco assured the public Friday that the lower chamber will continue to pass timely measures to help the country as its continues to grapple against the coronavirus pandemic.
In his Christmas message, Velasco said the pandemic situation in the country has improved compared to last year as vaccination among the public increased.
“Sa ikalawang pagkakataon, ipinagdiriwang natin ang panahon ng Kapaskuhan habang patuloy nating kinakaharap ang krisis ng COVID-19. Ngunit hindi kagaya noong nakaraan, di hamak na mas mabuti at puno ng pag-asa ang ating Pasko ngayong taon,” Velasco said.
(For the second year, we are celebrating Christmas while we continue to face the COVID-19 crisis. But unlike last year, the situation this year is much better and there is hope.)
“Habang nariyan ang banta ng COVID-19, makakaasa kayo na kami sa Kongreso ay patuloy na nakaagapay sa ating pamahalaan sa pamamagitan ng pagbalangkas at pagpasa ng mga napapanahon at mahahalagang batas na tutugon sa pangangailangan ng bansa ngayong pandemya,” he added.
(While the threat of COVID-19 is there, the public can expect that Congress will continue to help the government by drafting and passing timely and important measures that will respond to the country’s needs amid the pandemic.)
Velasco said that the increased vaccination rate has led to the gradual reopening of the economy.
“Ang patuloy na pagbaba ng mga kaso ng COVID-19 habang mas maraming Pilipino ang nababakunahan laban sa nakamamatay na sakit ay nagdulot ng pagluwag sa mga paghihigpit dahilan para unti-unti ng magbukas ang ating ekonomiya at muling makapaghanapbuhay ang mas marami nating kababayan,” Velasco said.
(The continued decline in COVID-19 cases while more Filipinos get vaccinated has resulted in the easing of restrictions and gradual reopening of the economy leading to more Filipinos to return to their jobs.)
The Philippines logged 288 new COVID-19 cases on December 23, with the DOH noting that the positivity rate slightly increased to 1.1 percent.
With the new infections, the overall case count rose to 2,837,903.