Marcos urges public to get COVID booster shot amid Omicron XBB, XBC threats

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Thursday urged Filipinos to avail COVID-19 booster shot following the detection of immune-evasive Omicron subvariant XBB and variant XBC in the country.

The President issued the call during the 75th Ormoc City Diamond Charter Day Celebration, pointing out that Philippines still has a low booster uptake, especially in the said city.

He added that the wall of immunity to be built by COVID-19 vaccines would help speed up the full reopening of the economy.

“Magpabooster shot na kayo para mabawasan na ang lahat ng impeksyon at mabuksan na nating lahat ang mga negosyo, wala nang protocol, wala nang kung anu-ano pa. Bukas lahat ng mga pang hanapbuhay ng ating mga kababayan,” Marcos said in his speech.

(Go get your booster shot so that infections will decline and businesses can open up with no more protocols.)

He urged the people to continue prioritizing their health, saying that “with renewed vigor and new strength” Filipinos can continue to “bring forth a better, brighter and more united Philippines for everyone.”

The XBB and XBC are both recombined coronaviruses. The XBB was recombined from the BJ.1 and BM.1.1.1 strains of the COVID-19 Omicron variant, while the XBC was a combination from the BA.2 sublineage of the Omicron and Delta variants.

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. speaks before the 75th Ormoc City Diamond Charter Day Celebration in Leyte.

Climate change, global warming

As one of the locations typically struck severely by typhoons, Marcos praised Ormoc City for its efforts to combat climate change.

To lessen the impact of climate change and global warming, he urged Filipinos to keep up their diligent environmental protection efforts.

“Kaya’t lahat ay kailangan nating gawin para alagaan natin ang ating environment at maging conscious tayo sa ating paggamit ng ating mga natural resources dito sa Pilipinas dahil kung hindi tayo mag-ingat ay mauubos natin lahat,” Marcos said.

(We should do everything we can to care for our environment and be conscious in using our natural resources so that they would not be exploited and depleted.

He also lauded the city’s efforts in prioritizing the development of families, specifically the programs for teenage mothers and their children.

“I will repeat this administration’s commitment to support those programs and projects for the betterment of your locality and for our country,” the President said.

Marcos visited Leyte province this week to participate in various events including the switch-on lighting ceremony of the San Juanico Bridge and the 78th Leyte Gulf Landings anniversary.

JMS:abc