National Task Force (NTF) against Covid-19 Chief Implementer and Vaccine Czar Carlito Galvez, Jr. said the Philippines has low coronavirus cases and no surge for months due to the government’s vaccination efforts nationwide.

As of June 8, data from the National Vaccination Operations Center (NVOC) showed that 71,090,091 Filipinos have been fully vaccinated with primary Covid-19 doses while 14,355,799 eligible individuals have received their third dose or first booster vaccination.

In President Rodrigo Duterte’s Talk to the People on June 6, Galvez said that despite the threats of a Covid-19 surge due to mass gatherings and events such as the May 9 elections, Ramadan, Lenten season, and the full opening of the economy, low coronavirus cases in the country have been maintained. 

“Ito po ay dahil sa mataas na antas ng ating [This is because of our high level of] vaccination,” Galvez said.

He also noted that the retainment of face masks along with other safety protocols mandated by the Covid-19 Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) had contributed to the controlled number of coronavirus cases.

As of June 8, only 2,440 active Covid-19 cases were recorded in the Philippines.

Galvez said that the government’s initial target in the National Vaccination Plan was only 70 million and was later on increased to 90 million because of the coronavirus variants.

He reported that the initial target population of vaccinated Filipinos was already achieved, which would be a great contribution to the next administration.

“… Pero nakita po natin na talagang ‘yung [But we can see that the] 70 million po na nagawa po natin [we have achieved]. Gusto po nating pasalamatan ‘yung [We would like to thank the] National Vaccination Operations Center dahil kasi napakalaki na po nitong naiambag natin sa susunod na administrasyon [because we have contributed greatly to the next administration],” Galvez said.

Galvez cited that being one of the few countries that have vaccinated 70 million people, the Philippines has a commendable vaccination program.

“Ang WHO po… Sila po ay talagang tuwang tuwa rin kasi [WHO is really happy because] there are only few countries who accomplished 70 million fully vaccinated people. And isa po ang Pilipinas sa sinasabi nila na napakaganda ang tinatawag nating pag-arangkada sa [the Philippines is one of the (countries) that has a good progress in] vaccination,” he said.

Galvez also reported other positive impacts led by the government’s current management of Covid-19—the Philippines under Level 1 in the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC), the stable outlook in foreign financing ratings, a high approval rating based on the OCTA Research survey, about 500,000 foreign tourists arrival, and an improved economic outlook, among others.

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