Senator and Chair of the Senate Committee on Health Christopher “Bong” Go on Wednesday, June 22, reiterated the importance of getting vaccinated, with continued discipline and cooperation, in combating a threat like COVID-19 amid a rise in infections in Metro Manila.

In an ambush interview after personally providing aid to various sectoral groups in San Isidro, Davao Oriental, Go warned that raising the alert level status in Metro Manila could have a detrimental effect on businesses and urged the government to strike a careful balance between health and economic concerns.

“Kung maaari po, huwag naman sana, dahil mahirapan naman po, mababawasan ‘yung kapasidad ng (mga establisimento at negosyo). Ibig sabihin, mababawasan ‘yung income. Mababawasan ‘yung mga possible employment. So sana po’y huwag muna,” said Go referring to proposals to heighten alert status.

“Pero pag-aralan natin nang mabuti. Ako naman po, uunahin ko parati ang buhay at kalusugan ng bawat Pilipino. Kung kaya pa naman natin, kailangan disiplina muna tayo sa ngayon. Disiplina ng bawat isa, magtulungan po tayo. Sino ba namang magtutulungan kundi tayo lang po,” he added.

The discipline and cooperation of Filipinos, reiterated Go, have been successful in battling the pandemic thus far and must be continued.

“Kaya tayo naging Alert Level 1 dahil tayong Pilipino ay disiplinado. Tayo po isa sa mga bansa na sumusunod sa pag-face mask. ‘Yung ibang bansa, hindi na po nagpe-face mask,” said Go.

“So, saludo po ako sa Pilipino. Salamat po sa inyong kooperasyon at para naman po ito sa lahat. Hindi naman po ito para sa gobyerno kundi para po ito sa kapakanan ng bawat Pilipino,” he added.

The capital region may return to a stricter Alert Level 2 if the surge in cases results in a dramatic rise in hospital admissions, the Department of Health warned on Monday. But it also made note of the fact that the figures have not yet resulted in more serious cases, a major increase, or more hospital admissions.

Meanwhile, the lawmaker urged the public to get vaccinated and boosted as soon as possible, citing evidence that showed those who had received vaccinations have milder symptoms when infected. In order to ensure that the entire country is protected, he also encouraged the government to make sure that remote areas receive the vaccines.

“Ako naman po ang dapat nating gawin, suggestion lang po, my own opinion as a Senate Committee on Health (Chair), suyurin po natin nang mabuti ang mga lugar na talagang kulang pa ang pagpapabakuna,” urged Go.

“And let me remind our fellow Filipinos na pakiusap ko lang po na magpabakuna na po kayo dahil nandidiyan po ang bakuna. Pinaghirapan natin itong mga bakunang ito. Huwag nating sayangin. So kung qualified na po kayong magpa-booster, magpa-booster na po kayo,” he added.

As of June 20, the country has received 245,083,080 COVID-19 vaccines. It has administered a total of 153,241,972 doses. A total of 70,068,551 Filipinos have been fully vaccinated. Meanwhile, 14,762,670 booster doses have been administered while 682,209 doses have been given as second boosters.

Finally, Go warned the public not to be complacent in order not to waste the bayanihan efforts and collective sacrifices of all Filipinos.

“Huwag nating sayangin ang effort ng administrasyon… huwag naman sana na magback to zero uli tayo. Napakahirap pong magsimula muli sa zero,” he said.

“So pakiusap ko lang, ang bakuna ang tanging susi o solusyon para unti-unti na tayong makabalik sa ating inaasam na normal na pamumuhay,” Go concluded.