Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea (File photo)
MANILA – Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea on Monday expressed confidence that the Philippines can win against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) when the spirit of Filipino “bayanihan” or teamwork thrives.
Just hours before President Rodrigo Duterte delivers his fifth and penultimate State of the Nation Address (SONA), Medialdea urged his fellow Filipinos to help the government in its fight against Covid-19.
“It is our hope that we nurture the Filipino bayanihan spirit as it is that spirit that will carry our nation through, bring it back to its feet and enable it to resume its march towards progress,” Medialdea said in a speech delivered during the “Today’s Leading Forward,” a primer for Duterte’s penultimate SONA.
Medialdea made the call, as he guaranteed that the Covid-19 pandemic strengthened the government’s resolve to improve the lives of all Filipinos.
“Throughout the extraordinary time for our people, your government has been relentless in mobilizing every resource and seeking every opportunity to attain better days for our nation,” he said.
Medialdea also ensured that the government’s care for the entire nation would continue to be felt amid the pandemic.
He added that Duterte and his administration is exhausting all efforts to provide “real, lasting and meaningful change” for all the Filipino people despite the crisis the country is facing due to the Covid-19 outbreak.
“He (Duterte) is working to ensure that the needs of Filipino citizenry are met during these trying times,” Medialdea said. “Under the leadership of our President, let us stand together and defeat Covid-19 pandemic.”
As of Sunday, the Philippines has logged a total of 80,448 confirmed Covid-19 cases.
Around 26,110 Covid-19 patients have already recovered, while some 1,932 individuals have succumbed to the highly-contagious disease.
Medialdea told the nation to look forward to the future with “hope and positivity,” as Duterte is set to present a roadmap for the country’s recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.
He also enjoined them to be the government’s “partner for change” in an effort to bring progress and development to the country.
“Let us continue to work together and build a better and more prosperous Philippines,” Medialdea said. (PNA)
