Olympic winner Hidilyn Diaz receives cash incentives from ALA Awardee Cong. Mikee Romero

Hidilyn Diaz receiving the check from Cong. Romero

True to his words and commitment, Congressman Mikee Romero personally handed over to the first ever Olympic Gold medalist of the Philippines, Hidilyn Diaz, the P3 million check, for winning the first ever Olympic gold medal for the Philippines. She got the gold for competing in Weightlifting in the Women’s 55kg category.

It will be recalled that Congressman Romero committed an additional P3 million, P2 million and P1 million incentive for gold, silver and bronze Filipino medalist/s in this year’s Olympics. He announced this last July 20 before the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum. He took this initiative to be able to add motivation to our competing athletes and this is out of his own company’s expense.  

As we know, Congressman Romero is the richest lawmaker in the land and 46th in the Forbes magazine list of wealthiest Filipinos in 2020 with a net worth of US$135 million or P6.5 billion. Aside from being a lawmaker, Romero is also the chairman and president of Globalport 900, Inc.

A sportsman himself and a true supporter of the Filipino athletes, Congressman Romero also reiterated the call for the establishment of a Department of Sports to support athletes in their careers. He said, “Our athletes need to train outside of the Philippines because we don’t have enough infrastructure and facilities. With the Department of Sports, it will have the mandate to put as many infrastructures as possible.”

He is yet to award the P2M and P1M incentive to Silver medallist Nesthy Petecio, boxing, women's feather and Bronze medallist Eumir Marcial, boxing, men's middle, respectively.

For his efforts and countless initiatives to help the people, either in Congress and as an individual, Congressman Mikee Romero has recently been chosen by American Association of the Philippines, to join its roster of “Profiles in Excellence” as an Outstanding athlete, Entrepreneur, and Public Servant award. He will also be one of the honouree in this year’s Asia Leaders Awards to be held this November, 2021.

Asia Leaders Awards (ALA) is the largest business awards event in the Philippines and Southeast Asia. It is only the recognition giving body whose awards committee is composed of respected leaders from different organizations and embassies. It’s main objective is to promote the Philippines as a premier business hub and destination in Asia. One with this goal are the ALA major sponsors, Alfamart, Asian Tigers Mobility, AsiaPrime Corporation, Bounty Agro Ventures, Inc., Fredley Group of Companies, Frontrow Enterprise, Grab, Jollibee Group, and J&T Express.

For more information about Asia Leaders Awards, visit https://www.facebook.com/AsiaLeadersAwards

Wow Orange Fleshed Durian!

According to reports, Durio graveolens, sometimes called the red-fleshed durian, orange-fleshed durian, or yellow durian, is a species of tree in the family Malvaceae. It is one of six species of durian named by Italian naturalist Odoardo Beccari. The specific epithet graveolens is due to the odor. 

In the Philippines, one of the famous in durian farming is Bernard Bautista of “Bautista Plant Nursery - Prutasan at Halaman sa Tabing Daan” in Makilala, North Cotobato. He sent this variety to Grace Bondad Nicolas—The Manila Times business writer, Entrepreneur and CEO of Hidden Hills Farm By Josefino to taste.

Taste and Texture according to Grace 

“One of my favourite fruits, Durian. Seeing this kind of variety, makes me curious and receiving the fruits from Bernard, I’m thankful. I actually went to different countries just to have the taste of different varieties and even paid Php 1K per kilo for Musang King. I even asked a friend to join me in Davao just to satisfy our cravings.”

“In our farm, we have 40 trees of native durian and with Durio Graveolens, hoping to have this addition to our variety. The taste actually is like a crossbreed of Jackfruit and Durian, the smell is the same also, Jackfruit or Langka in the Philippines. Its like also with a taste of wine. So if you like both, this is a catch. As for the texture, it’s more fine and creamy.” 

The durian is the edible fruit of several tree species belonging to the genus Durio. There are 30 recognised Durio species, at least nine of which produce edible fruit, with over 300 named varieties in Thailand and 100 in Malaysia, as of 1987.  The famous in the Philippines, Puyat is the Philippine's main commercial durian variety. It's exported to different countries and is the main durian variety you'll find if you visit Davao City. 

To order, please check their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063782420956

Updates on Scientific Evidence and Clinical Experience on Ivermectin

Prevention is always better than cure. Although weve been in this pandemic situation for some time now, we  have medical practitioners and researchers, who due diligently study, try and test solutions to like predicaments, and with advance technologies science have, we can surely overcome things such as this.

And in just recent development, there`s this one drug which is IVERMECTINE we can count on to counter this prevailing disease in our midst. 

This medicine was clearly explained here in Dr Zen's very important webinar! 

Medical experts invited to speak  were;

1. Dr. Ma.Helen Perez Florentino as host 

2. Dr. Eugene Reyes, former President of the Philippine Heart Association and the current Chief of the Cardiovascular Medicine Division of the UP-PGH 

3. Dr. Therese Lawrie,   Johannes Burgh Medical, South Africa, Director of the Evidence Based Medicine Consultancy Ltd.   

She shared several statistics and studies conducted in UK. 10 reviews show reduction in Covid deaths (American Journal of Therapeutics)

Covid is treatable and Ivermectin is one treatment for this.” she assured. 

4. Dr. Jackie Stone shared on her lecture the Zimbabwe Experience. Their strategy, Hit it hard, Hit it early, Hit it with combination therapy. 

 

They started using Ivermectin in August 2020 and it resulted also to a significant reduction in mortality rate for those treated with Ivermectin & Adjuvant therapy as compared to those patients administered following the WHO guidelines .

Zimbabwe approach lessens hospitalization, patients were largely managed on their homes, allowing reduction of pressure to their hospital system. The Philippines needs this since our hospitals are saturated with Covid patients.

Treatment with Ivermectin should be administered within the viral replication days.

She cited that even with her own clinical experience, only 1 out of 104 died and death was not attributed to be cause by the drug. She further commended Zimbabwe government for acting fast in approving the use of Ivermectin despite the many criticisms they received. This fast approval played a vital role on their very successful management of Covid-19. Death statistics lowered, hospitals not clogged and stressed out, and home management  proved to be viable, affordable and very efficient. 

5. Dra Godofreda Dalmacion lectured on Repurposed Drug, Ivermectin is one of them, quoting 1988 Nobel Prize in Physiology, Sir James Black, that "The most fruitful basis for the discovery of a new drug is to start with an old drug.”

She validated the point raised that Ivermectin can be used to treat cancer. IVM inhibits the proliferation and metastasis of cancer cells and actually provokes the death of cancer cells. 

PH doctors are frightened to prescribe the drug because of the non-approval of FDA.

But only “FDA regulates drug approval, it does not regulate prescribing” 

Dra. Godofreda Dalmacion, is a Fellow of the Philippine Obstetrical and Gynecological Society. Master Medical science on Pharmaco Epidemiology  at the University of New Castle, Australia, currently a member of the Philippines Regulations Commissions for the Board of Medicine.

 

6. Dr. Armando Guidote Jr about Ivermectin Quality and Safety Assurance.

Dr. Guidote is the Institute Director of Pure & Applied Chemistry and Department of Chemistry of ADMU,  and is from PIPAC, a non-profit Scientific Institution with experience on Quality Assurance for almost 50 years. Quality assurance is a way of preventing mistakes and defects in manufactured products 

Three things to look at, Drug Dosage, Dissolution and Contamination.

Dr. Guidote confirmed  that the Ivermectin manufactured by Lloyd laboratories for Dr.Zen's, passed all the tests they conducted, results are very near to what the manufacturer has documented. 

 Ivermectin is now available here. other countries has already used cases on the efficiency of IVM on Covid patients. 

Reminder: Ivermectin is a prescription medicine, and be should be taken under strict doctors’ supervision.

DR ZEN's is only FDA approved and registered Ivermectin in the Philippines, available at Mercury Drug and other leading drugstores nationwide.

Here are the available dosage and prices for your reference:

15mg - P27/tab

12mg - P25/tab

6mg - P22.5/tab

See more slides here:

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=4402510669800023&id=100001234007148

Watch full webinar here: https://www.facebook.com/102014612131024/videos/506261134021564

The missing section of the city wall of Jerusalem that the Babylonians encountered in 586 BCE

Archaeological excavations in the City of David National Park have uncovered the remains of the city wall, which was built during the Iron Age - the days of the First Temple in the Kingdom of Judah, to protect Jerusalem from the east. The excavations are conducted at the City of David National Park on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority, in collaboration with the City of David Foundation, as part of the development of the National Park. 

According to the directors of the excavation, Dr. Filip Vukosavović of the Ancient Jerusalem Research Center and Dr. Joe Uziel and Ortal Chalaf on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority: "The city wall protected Jerusalem from a number of attacks during the reign of the kings of Judah, until the arrival of the Babylonians who managed to break through it and conquer the city. The remains of the ruins can be seen in the archaeological excavations. However, not everything was destroyed, and parts of the walls, which stood and protected the city for decades and more, remain standing to this day. " 

The new section that was exposed connects two sections that were previously excavated on the eastern slope. In the 1960s, British archaeologist Kathleen Kenyon uncovered a section of the wall in the northern part of the slope and dated it to the days of the Kingdom of Judah. About a decade later, archaeologist Yigal Shiloh uncovered a long section of the wall, in excavations in the southern part of the slope. Over the years, claims have been made that despite the impressive nature of the remains, these remnant stone structures should not be seen as wall remains. However, with the uncovering of this new section that connects with these past discoveries, it seems that the debate has been settled, and that this was unequivocally the eastern wall of ancient Jerusalem. 

Reconstruction of the sections that were dismantled during previous excavations in the early 20th century, makes it possible to trace almost another 30 meters of the surviving wall to a height of 2.5 meters and a width of up to 5 meters. In the book of 2 Kings, 25:10, there is a description of the conquest of the city by the Babylonians: “The whole Babylonian army under the commander of the imperial guard broke down the walls around Jerusalem.” However, it looks like the Babylonians did not destroy the eastern wall, possibly due to the sharp steepness of the eastern slope of the City of David, which slopes towards the Kidron Valley at over 30-degree angle. The findings of the destruction can be seen in the building that stood next to the wall and were exposed during the previous excavations: inside the building, rows of storage jars were discovered, which were smashed when the building burned and collapsed. The jars bear "rosette" stamped handles, in the shape of a rose, associated with the final years of the Kingdom of Judah. Near the wall, a Babylonian stamp seal made of stone was unveiled, depicting a figure standing in front of symbols of the two Babylonian gods Marduk and Nabu. Not far from there a bulla (a stamp seal impression made in clay) was found bearing a Judaean personal name "Tsafan". 

Photo 1: The walls of the city of Jerusalem in the days of the First Temple. Illustration Shalom Kveller, City of David Archive  

Photo 2: A stamp seal which bears the name “Tsafan in ancient Hebrew script. Photo Koby Harati, City of David  

Photo 3: Jar handle with concentric circle imprint. Photo Koby Harati, City of David  

Photo 4: The excavation directors are sitting on the remains of the wall. Photo Yaniv Berman, Israel Antiquities Authority

House Committee on Appropriations OKs DOST-S4CP bill

On 4 August 2021, the House Committee on Appropriations approved the substitute bill of the Science for Change Program (S4CP) from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). Albay Representative Joey Salceda, Pangasinan 4th District Representative Christopher De Venecia, and DOST Secretary Fortunato De La Pena all spoke on behalf of the bill, citing the important role of science and technology in helping the Philippines overcome the COVID-19 Pandemic and strengthen its resiliency.

“When I returned to Congress in 2016, I convened National Scientists, members of the academe, and leading officials of the DOST to craft a national framework for scientific development,” related Congressman Joey Salceda.  “We were alarmed by the data from the World Bank, which showed that out of 90 countries that the Philippines only beats Algeria and Sudan for R&D spending per capita.  And in terms in share of GDP, we beat only Algeria, Iran and Indonesia.”  

Given the rapid demand for innovation during the pandemic, the bill aims to address the disparity in research and development (R&D) funding in the Regions and lack of R&D in the private sector.  Health concerns presented by COVID-19 tested the country’s ability to respond to public emergencies.  S4CP will also provide scientific solutions to national problems such as health innovations, transportation, nutrition, food security, food safety and disaster response and risk management

“With approved and implemented S4CP Bill, there will be continuing support from government, industry and academe to STI for inclusive, equitable and sustainable development,” said DOST Secretary Fortunato T. de la Peña. “There will be continuing increase in technology-based & value-adding business investments both foreign and domestic due to a conducive STI supported economic environment; and more self-reliance because of more capable and more confident technology stakeholders.”

While the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) benchmark for a developing country is a budget of 1% of the GDP Expenditure on R&D (GERD), the S4CP bill is pushing for the allocation of 2% in the General Appropriations Act for R&D within the next five years.  The R&D budget is currently at 0.47% in the 2021 General Appropriations Act.  

Even with a limited budget, the S4CP achieved milestones in scientific output since  2016. DOST has funded 38 Niche Centers in the Regions for R&D (NICER) in 17 Regions with allotted funding of P1.89 Billion for universities and R&D Institutes (RDI) in the region.   Another S4CP sub-program is the RDLead which deployed 42 R&D Leaders in 16 Regions tasked to share their expertise and promote regional development.  Despite the relatively low inputs given to the science, technology and innovation initiatives in the country. The DOST has achieved significant milestones in scientific output as it implemented the 4 sub-programs of the S4CP since 2016.  

The Collaborative Research and Development to Leverage Philippine Economy (CRADLE) Program created partnerships between private companies and the academe/ RDIs to solve their problems using R&D.  The CRADLE Program funded 71 partnerships in 10 regions with a total funding of P324.5 million.  The Business Innovation through S&T for Industry (BIST) Program encourage private companies to invest in R&D. It was designed for government to share the risk, by shouldering 70% of the cost of the R&D equipment. The Program has provided financial assistance to three companies in their R&D efforts with a total allotted funding of P32.6 million.  

“The Economic Development Cluster supports the Science for Change bill and we will abide by DOF and DBM suggestion not to create a Special Fund but instead propose to allocate a larger budget to DOST for its priority programs and projects,” said DOST Secretary dela Peña. “Starting at P10 billion for 2022 and increasing each year in the next five years until it reaches 2% of the GAA.” 

Once approved, the S4CP Bill will promote inclusive, equitable and sustainable development through the optimal use of the R&D budget allocated to different government department and agencies.  It will give rise to more national centers of excellence in R&D which are a par with international counterparts and impact social and economic development of the country.

FFCCCII supports bold moves & vaccine incentives to counter Delta variant

 Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce & Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII) President Dr. Henry Lim Bon Liong expressed support for the proposal of Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship  Jose Ma. “Joey” Concepcion III for the government to consider the possibility of imposing restrictions for individuals who have not yet to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and to give incentives to businesses and persons who have already vaccinated. These proposals aim to counter the spread of the contagious Delta variant of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines.

According to Concepcion, the government should look into “bold moves” such as restricting the unvaccinated population from entering and eating at certain establishments or moving around the country.

Other Concepcion proposals which FFCCCII also support include granting incentives to businesses that target full vaccination of their employees such as increased operational capacity, and fully vaccinated individuals can also be given incentives such as more mobility, ease of travel, and exempting them from mandatory tests.

FFCCCII has also undertaken the Philippines’ first private sector import and roll-out of vaccines, with 500,000 Sinovac vaccine doses, The FFCCCII vaccination project from Luzon, Visayas to Mindanao is now on-going for economic frontliners comprising entrepreneurs, employees and workers nationwide. Target completion of this vaccination is end of August.

Dr. Lim said: “At zero cost to government, this civic project of FFCCCII to vaccinate economic frontliners is undertaken to help lessen the burden of government and this is our philanthropic contribution to the national goal of inoculating 70 million Filipinos or 100% of the country’s adult population by the end of the year. Let us support the mass vaccination program for faster public health, consumer confidence and economic recovery of the Philippines this year.”

FFCCCII is the nationwide business and civic federation of over 170 Filipino Chinese chambers of commerce, diverse trade and industry associations from Aparri to Tawi Tawi. The FFCCCII members are Filipino Chinese entrepreneurs, majority of whom are Philippine-born and Filipino citizens, also including civic-minded new immigrant entrepreneurs.

Joey Concepcion, PCCI, FFCCCII agree to proposed 2-week strict lockdown in August to stop Delta variant & ensure strong 4th quarter Phil. economic recovery

Phil. Chamber of Commerce & Industry (PCCI) and Exporters Confederation of the Philippines (PhilExport) Chairman George Barcelon and Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce & Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII) President Dr. Henry Lim Bon Liong today agreed with Presidential Adviser on Entrepreneurship Sec. Joey Concepcion & OCTA Research proposal that the government implement a 2-weeks strict lockdown in August to decisively contain the spread of the more contagious Delta variant of the COVID-19. They all agreed that this sacrifice shall help ensure stronger, safer Phil. economic recovery for fourth quarter 2021, which is traditionally the best time for businesses in the year. Concepcion, Barcelon and Dr. Lim also agreed that before the 2-weeks lockdown in August, there should be at least one week of preparation which shall perhaps be in the first week of August.

On the question of negative impact on economic recovery momentum, Concepcion, Barcelon and Lim all agreed that proposed two-week strict lockdown may turn economic growth negative, but if successful to prevent and contain the feared Delta variant, this sacrifice shall make the fourth quarter “a Merry Christmas and 2022 shall be a fantastic new year for robust Philippine economic growth”.

Joey Concepcion explained August is the best time for a two-week strict lockdown to contain Delta variant, since it is a weak time for the economy due to nonstop rainy days and it is also the ancient Chinese belief of “Ghost Month” when business deals are avoided. Concepcion also added that private sector vaccinations are now accelerating with the arrival of GoNegosyo-led Asta Zeneca vaccines for various business groups, the arrival of Moderna vaccines in the third quarter, and also FFCCCII is about to complete in August its on-going inoculation with 500,000 Sinovac vaccines nationwide.

The last 11 months of the Duterte administration is important for pandemic containment and economic recovery, said Concepcion, Barcelon and Lim. Dr. Henry Lim Bon Liong gave Pres. Duterte a rating of 8 out of maximum 10 in over-all governance “pre-pandemic” based on better peace & order situation, infrastructures, socio-economic reforms, independent foreign policy, agriculture modernization, etc., but Lim said the last 11 months shall be crucial in affecting his over-all legacy. Concepcion and Barcelon also lauded Duterte administration for improved peace and order for ordinary citizens, the most ambitious infrastructure projects with his “Build Build Build”, his prudent fiscal and monetary policies, socio-economic reforms, his making the Philippines a friend of all the world’s big powers with the independent foreign policy, low inflation, low interest rates. On the war on illegal drugs, Barcelon said Pres. Duterte has achieved successes but he realizes that it is a long-term and complex problem which cannot yet be totally stopped, such as examples of developed societies like USA which is also still fighting its own narcotics problems. All three business leaders said that August is a good time to sacrifice two weeks in strict lockdown, to decisively revive and reopen the Philippine economy in the fourth quarter and to ensure 2022 shall be a year of fast, sustainable economic growth.  

OPENING STATEMENT OF DR. HENRY LIM BON LIONG

FFCCCII foresees Phil. recovery,

economic growth 7-8% in 2021 & 8-9% in 2022

Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship, Secretary Joey Concepcion;

PCCI President Emeritus George Barcelon;

Mr. Wilson Lee Flores, our Pandesal Forum host;

Friends from the media;

Ladies and gentlemen:

Good morning.

On behalf of the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc., it is my great pleasure to be part of this Pandesal Forum on the State of Philippine Economy and Prospects for Economic Recovery.

On Monday, President Rodrigo R. Duterte gave a hopeful yet realistic State of the Nation Address (SONA), which I think should be our attitude---be hopeful yet realistic and ever vigilant. Government’s 2021 economic growth target is 6 to 7%, while Asian Development Bank (ADB) was more conservative in forecasting 4.5%.  Next year 2022, gov’t. the economic growth target is 7 to 9%, while the more conservative ADB said it shall be 5.5%. We believe if we Philippine economic growth can be 7 to 8% this year 2021 and accelerating to 8 to 9% next year 2022, if we unite, cooperate, if government reforms and vaccinations continue, if we the business sector keep faith, persevere, invest more. I foresee global economic recovery and our Philippine election season to boost economic recovery, especially this second half of 2021.

Yes, we’re still in the midst a global pandemic and we still face the dangers of the new Delta variant.  But we’re seeing good news with the arrival of more vaccines coming every month including our ongoing FFCCCII Vaccination Program with 500,000 Sinovac doses.

We are pleased to be the Philippines’ first private sector vaccine import and rollout program, which is a unique civic project for economic frontliners – the entrepreneurs and workers – across Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao.  This vaccine project has zero cost to government and hopes to lessen the burden on our government.

We launched the vaccination rollout last June 25 and currently, we have already inoculated more than 68% of the vaccine recipients for first dose. Our goal is to complete the first dose vaccinations by early August.

Vaccines save lives. It can keep the rates of diseases low and give us hope as a long-term solution to beat the pandemic. Through vaccination, we are protecting each other so let us encourage everybody to be vaccinated.

FFCCCII supports the proposals of Secretary Joey Concepcion for bold moves to counter Delta variant of COVID-19 with possible restrictions for unvaccinated people when they’re going to public places; the granting of incentives to businesses that aim for full vaccination of their employees by allowing operational flexibilities; and allowing more mobility for vaccinated individuals.

Wider availability of vaccines is expected to revive consumer confidence, restore public health, and boost Philippine economic recovery in the coming weeks and months.

President Duterte’s SONA on Monday gave us a clear account of what his administration has significantly done for the country in the past five years, and in meeting the challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. We thank Pres. Duterte for reiterating the government’s commitment “to assist the private sector to regain the commercial vibrance of the country prior to the pandemic”.

The continued acceleration of Build Build Build’s new infrastructure projects and their constructions shall have positive impact on our economic recovery.

The fiscal and monetary policies and reforms of the Duterte administration have been prudent. Thus, the Philippine economy has strong economic fundamentals for good and robust recovery.

A positive factor we’re seeing is the stable global environment – with economic recoveries in the world’s two biggest economies, first with China, and now, with steady recovery in USA.  Our Asian region is still economically vibrant, especially with the signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement by the 10 members of ASEAN including the Philippines, with Australia, China, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand.  RCEP is the world's biggest free trade zone with much opportunities for us the Philippines.

Aside from this, there is the Belt and Road Initiative or BRI led by China, including the Beijing-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank or AIIB.  This BRI complements the Philippines’ Build, Build, Build program. Let us cooperate more with and benefit from BRI and AIIB.

Another good news, FFCCCII’s member and Nielsen Philippines head has said that traditionally, election spending can add 1 to 2 % to GDP or economic growth.  So, we expect a big increase in economic activities when the election season starts in a few months.

We wish to cite a solid achievement of President Duterte in the past five years, which is his independent foreign policy of befriending all the world’s big powers. Thus, this high-level diplomacy is benefitting the Philippine economy with increased trade and investments, such as dramatic increase in agriculture and banana exports to China, more tourism from China before the pandemic, and numerous big infrastructure assistance from China and also from Japan such as the massive new Metro Manila subway project.

Also due to our wise and pragmatic independent foreign policy, the Philippines has received continuous vaccines supplies from Sinovac of China, Sputnik of Russia, and now even vaccine donations also from Japan and USA.  I think we are the only country in the world with so many different countries supplying us with vaccines. All the world’s big powers are now courting the Philippines.

Even in sports, we, the Philippines has benefitted.  The first Philippine Olympic gold medal winner, the talented and hardworking Hidilyn Diaz has a Chinese head coach Mr. Gao Kaiwen of China. The 64-year-old Gao has coached multiple Chinese Olympic medalists, before became Diaz's mentor in 2018 after he retired as a Chinese Bayi weightlifting team coach.  This is a great example of win-win cooperation between the Philippines and China.

Let the fighting spirit, the hard work and courage of Hidilyn Diazbe be our inspiration to help the Philippine economy overcome the global pandemic.

With all these positive news, we are optimistic and confident that we can beat COVID-19 and achieve economic recovery soonest.

Let’s continue to accelerate the rollout of vaccines and uphold health protocols, so we can safely reopen our Philippine economy. Let us restore and create more jobs.

Let us have faith, unite and work hard for a Merry Christmas. Let us make sure 2022 will be a prosperous New Year of strong Philippine economic recovery.

Thank you and have a pleasant day.