Isko Moreno says to focus on combatting Omicron surge, will resume ‘Listening Tour’ later

FILE PHOTO Presidential candidate Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso in Lipa City, Batangas, during IM Pilipinas Convention on Friday, October 15, 2021. Screengrab

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso is not yet thinking of resuming his “Listening Tour” as he would rather focus on the pandemic especially in combatting the current surge in Covid-19 cases brought about by the highly-contagious Omicron variant.

“Wala, hindi ko talaga iniisip. Ang gusto ko talaga ngayon kapag kayo ay na-impeksyon ay magamot namin kayo. Ang gusto ko ngayon, pag may na impeksyon gumaling kayo agad. Gusto naming meron kayong pasilidad, meron kayong doctor,” Moreno told reporters after inspecting the Araullo Quarantine Facility, which is part of the city government’s preparation for the expected exponential rise in Covid-19 infections.

The Aksyon Demokratiko standard bearer said what is important right now for him and other Manila city officials is to focus all their efforts in halting the surge of Covid cases and keep as many people safe from infections.

“Naka-focus tayo dito sa pandemic ngayon, itong surge. Kasi kailangan maagapan natin ito kaya hinahanda ko ang ating lungsod at ating mamamayan. That (Listening Tour) will come later,” Moreno pointed out.

He said there is a need for them to act fast as more people – including doctors, nurses and other medical frontliners – have been infected or re-infected by the virus.

“Just to be fair to the public, to you, marami kaming medical frontliners na nare-infect as of 9 a.m. today, as per report ng ating mga ospital. Marami tayong mga nurses, doctors na nare-infect,” Moreno said.

And to help lessen the number of infections particularly among health workers in various hospitals, 12 quarantine facilities have been activated by the City of Manila, according to Moreno.

“We are trying to prepare our city in our own little way through our health department and Manila Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council and the Manila Police District of any possible surge that will demand quarantine facility. We have activated our quarantine facilities about two days ago,” Moreno said.

The 47-year-old local chief executive again took the opportunity to appeal to adults and parents of children ages 11 to 17-years-old to get themselves immediately vaccinated because the majority of the 544 active cases in Manila as of January 2, 2022 are unvaccinated individuals.

“So nananawagan po ako, magpabakuna na kayo. Pag hindi po kayo nagpabakuna darating ang araw, ilang oras ngayon o ilang araw ngayon o linggo ay pahigpit ng pahigpit ng pahigpit ang magiging regulasyon sa unvaccinated,” Moreno said.

“If you are not vaccinated the chances of getting infected is high. Ang Omicron malakas makahawa, most likely magkaka-Covid ka,” he said.

And to those people who are under isolation but are prone to violate quarantine rules, Moreno said he is calling on them to be more responsible.

“Panawagan ko na lang maging resposable ang tao. Ang lagi nating iisipin huwag lamang ang ating sariling kaligayahan or priblehiyong makukuha dahil may pera o mayaman sila at kaya nilang magbayad. Maging responsible para sa pamilya at sa kapwa,” Moreno said.

Moreno also said that aside from malls, those who are unvaccinated will not be allowed to dine in restaurants.

“Ngayon, naglabas na ng resolution ang Metro Manila mayors with regard to other rules and I will leave it to (MMDA) Chairman (Benhur) Abalos to explain it further about sa pampasaherong sasakyan and all other things. But definitely sa amin, for now, pag hindi ka bakunado stay home as much as possible,” Moreno said.

Moreno reported the delivery of an additional 20,000 tablets of Mulnopiravir, a live-saving drug for patients having mild to moderate symptoms.