Bong Go assures Filipinos that the gov't will utilize recently approved World Bank loan prudently to get sufficient vaccines for Filipinos and overcome pandemic

Confirming that the World Bank approved a $500-million (PhP24.2-billion) loan to support the government's efforts in procuring COVID-19 vaccines, Senator Christopher "Bong" Go assured the Filipino public that the government will use said funds for their intended purpose prudently and properly.

During an ambush interview right after he personally assisted 1,500 victims of Typhoon Ulysses in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, Go said that the government is stringently complying with guidelines to ensure that the borrowed money from the WB will be spent properly.

"Alam niyo, very strict po ang ating gobyerno sa mga sinusunod na guidelines bago po magkaroon ng pagbabayad sa ibang bansa, dapat siguraduhin po ng ating gobyerno na magamit po ang pera sa tama at sa wasto," Go said.

"Ang importante dito ay mabigyan tayo ng prayoridad sa bakuna dahil alam naman po natin na tanging bakuna lang po ang solusyon, tanging bakuna lang po ang susi para unti-unti tayong makabalik sa normal natin na pamumuhay," he added.

Go emphasized the crucial role of vaccines as better immunity will prevent the further spread of the virus.

"Mas mapapadali na ngayon ang pagsugpo natin sa COVID-19 dahil nakapagsimula na tayo magbakuna at unti-unti na natin nabibigyan ng proteksyon ang ating mga health care workers at iba pang frontliners," he explained further.

The WB approved the loan on Friday, March 12, which will also be used to support public health measures, such as the establishment of online platforms to collect citizen feedback on the country's vaccination program.

"Procuring and administering vaccines provides the country an added layer of defense against COVID-19 on top of public health measures or interventions like social distancing, wearing of masks, and washing hands," Ndiamé Diop, World Bank country director for Brunei, Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand, said in a statement.

"Inclusive deployment of vaccines in line with the World Health Organization Fair Allocation Framework is critical for preventing grave illness and deaths from COVID-19, opening the economy in earnest, ensuring a resilient recovery, and restoring jobs and incomes," Diop added.

To note, the Philippines has already received 600,000 Sinovac COVID-19 vaccines donated by the Chinese government and a total of 525,600 AstraZeneca vaccines from the COVAX Facility of the World Health Organization.

With this, Go urged the public to put their trust in health experts and the safety and efficacy of vaccines which, he stressed, is the only way to restore normalcy in the country.

"Ang importante dito, 'wag kayong matakot sa bakuna, mga kababayan ko, sa kapwa ko Pilipino, 'wag kayong matakot sa bakuna, matakot po kayo sa COVID-19 dahil ang COVID-19 po ang nakakamatay," he said.

"Ang bakuna po ang papatay sa COVID-19, 'yun lang po ang susi para unti-unti na tayong makabalik sa normal natin na pamumuhay, ang bakuna lamang po," he added.

Citing the possibility of new pandemics emerging in the future, Go previously mentioned that it is high time for the country to strengthen further its medical science and health research capabilities to prepare for other health crises and eventually develop its own vaccines and other medical interventions.

"Sa ngayon wala pa tayong panahon pero ako po ay sang-ayon na magkaroon tayo ng manufacturing capability ng vaccine para di na tayo mahirapan pa magorder sa ibang bansa na ang nangyari po ay take it or leave it... ang maliliit na bansa po ang kawawa dito," he said.

"Dapat magkaroon na tayo ng sariling manufacturing sa ating bansa... malay niyo ang magagaling na doktor o scientist na Pilipino ang makadiskubre ... matatalino po ang mga Pilipino at masisipag mag-isip," he added.

Go also assured that the government is accelerating its vaccine rollout to ensure that no Filipino is left behind towards recovery.

"Tuloy tuloy po ang pagbabakuna. Inuuna lang ang mga frontliner, dapat tapusin muna ang 1.7 million na frontliners. Kapag natapos na po bakunahan sila ay sisiguraduhin namin ni Pangulong Duterte na ang mahihirap at vulnerable, tulad ng mga senior citizen, sila naman ang susunod," he said.

"Susuyurin ang squatters (o informal settlers) area po kasi dikit dikit ang bahay at sila po ang delikado. Sila ang mga 'isang kahig, isang tuka', sila po ang kailangang lumabas ng bahay para magtrabaho at mabuhay so hindi sila mahuhuli sa pagpapabakuna," he assured.

Go advised the public to remain vigilant and follow health protocols to help put a stop to the spread of COVID-19.

"Ingat tayo, 'wag tayong magkumpiyansa, maging disiplinado po tayo, sumunod tayo sa paalala ng gobyerno -- face mask, face shield, social distancing, hugas ng kamay. Sa pag-aaral po, 90% kapag naka-face mask at face shield ka ay protektado tayo sa COVID-19. Sumunod tayo sa gobyerno para naman po ito sa inyo," Go said.

The Senator also noted that media workers must also be considered as frontliners given the crucial role they play in this fight against COVID-19, without prejudice to already identified priority groups.

"Pagkatapos ng mga frontliners, mga mahihirap naman po, kayo mga media kasama kayo sa frontlines dahil kayo po ang nagdadala ng balita at nagkakadikit dikit kayo. Kaya dapat po bigyan din kayo ng prayoridad sa bakuna," he said.