Thread by @cnnphilippines

THREAD: President Rodrigo Duterte's Talk to the Nation

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III gives the latest on COVID-19 cases

Duque's presentation states: Despite an observed increase in deaths compared to December 2021, increase in deaths NOT proportionate to case increase

Duque: Kung ano po ang nakikita natin sa NCR, halos nasasalamin po ang national COVID-19 situation in terms of cases na pababa po siya.

DOH figures show the average number of daily reported cases nationwide was lower by 56% in the past week compared to the week before.

Duterte to Duque: You have done good sa trabaho and the Filipino will never forget that. It’s a sacrifice really for you to continue doing it and I had to ask you several times to stay on the job because we need you

Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. says the launch of the pediatric vaccination in NCR and selected regions has been successful: Naka 100,000 tayong nabakunahan.

Galvez says boostering is slow because some people seem satisfied with two doses of the vaccine

LOOK: Galvez gives an update of vaccine administration by region.

Presidential Adviser for COVID-19 Response Vince Dizon: Meron pang almost 3 million unvaccinated senior citizens. These are the most vulnerable among our population

Dizon says vaccine hesitancy among seniors is still observed: It takes longer and it takes more effort to find them and to convince them to get vaccinated

Dizon says the government will prioritize vaccination in Region IV-B, Region 5, Region 12, Caraga and BARMM: These are the regions that still have vaccination rates of at least one dose below 70% of our target (population)

FDA Deputy Director General Oscar Gutierrez says there are still only three approved home antigen test kits

Dizon: Hopefully starting March, if all goes well, magsisimula na po tayo dito sa tinatawag nating new normal to prepare the country to finally close the book on COVID-19.

FDA Deputy General Gutierrez says 185 sari-sari stores were investigated for selling medicines. Of this number, 78 were confirmed to have been selling medicines which is against the pharmacy law and 13 of them were selling fake medicines

Gutierrez: Itong nakaraan na buwan 'yung mga drug store walang nakita na confirmed selling fake medicine. Dito lang po sa sari-sari store.

Gutierrez: Sa counterfeit law may penalty of imprisonment. Mere possession of counterfeit, six months and one day of imprisonment

Gutierrez points out that the sari-sari stores are also 'victims': Ang sari-sari store merong license to operate from the local government so we would like to work with the LGU to pass an ordinance na yung sari-sari store do not carry medicines

DILG Secretary Eduardo Año says they will work with the FDA to issue a memo circular to LGUs to conduct a campaign against selling fake medicines

Gutierrez says the FDA also monitored violations in selling of medicines in online outlets

Duterte warns the public from purchasing medicine online: Lay off muna kayo diyan sa online-onlne. Maraming tulisan diyan. Their imagination can really go wild and think of a violation that is really panloloko sa tao

Duterte says those selling fake medicines must be imprisoned since what they are doing is a "serious fraud."

Gutierrez says FDA is set to meet on Feb. 18 with partner organizations regarding guidelines on e-pharmacies, the draft copy of which is expected to be issued by next week.

DILG Sec. Eduardo Año says the government has so far distributed over ₱2.7 billion of ₱4.8 billion to victims of #OdettePH

Año says 319 areas are still under granular lockdown as of Feb. 12.

Duterte reiterates his call for the unvaccinated to get their COVID-19 shot: Huwag nilang pahirapan ang sarili nila, balang araw, mga anak, and their neighbors of contaminating them pagka tinamaan kayo

Duterte: Konting sakripisyo 'to

Duterte reminds the public to follow minimum public health standards like wearing of masks, washing of hands, and avoiding crowds

Duterte: Pag hindi, ako ang pupunta diyan sa inyo, ituturok ang bakuna diyan sa tenga mo, palusutin ko doon sa kabila. Iyan ang dapat sa inyo. Magdemanda kayo, demanda kasi yung ICC naghihintay ng marami pang kung ano sabihin