Pandemic, calamity lessons to guide PH in 2022: PRRD

MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday reminded Filipinos to cherish all their experiences gained from the year about to end, including struggles and victories in overcoming the Covid-19 pandemic and the damage caused by Typhoon Odette in Visayas and Mindanao.

Duterte said the Filipinos’ distinct resilience and bayanihan (cooperation) spirit help the country come out stronger amid the challenging times.

“Every day, we continue to witness the indomitable spirit of the Filipino that adapts, endures, and triumphs over all adversities. The dedication and courage of our people, especially of our medical and essential front liners, uniformed services, civilian personnel, and volunteers, demonstrate what great things we can achieve if we work in solidarity,” Duterte said in a statement.

“As we take a whole-of-nation approach to recover and build back better, may we all be inspired by the promise of new beginnings that the New Year brings,” he said.

The President also urged the Filipinos “to aim higher and do things better in the spirit of genuine “malasakit at pagbabago (devotion and change)” as we will be entering another fresh start and opportunity next year.

“Let all our aspirations and actions be guided by our strong sense of nationhood and our deep faith in the Almighty. May we also find a stronger and higher purpose in our lives so that we may pursue only what is good for our families, communities, and the entire nation,” Duterte said.

“Isang pinagpala at masaganang Bagong Taon sa inyong lahat (A blessed and prosperous New Year to you all)!” he concluded.

Learn from yesterday

Meanwhile, Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said everyone should learn from “all that we have endured” in the past 12 months in order to “be better, be more inclusive and responsive, and be there for our fellow Filipinos in times of crises”.

“For the past year, we have continued our response to the Covid-19 pandemic as one nation. Not only did we face together the highs and lows of our fight against the global health crisis, but our nation’s grit, resilience, and bravery have recently been put to the test by the calamity and disaster, caused by Typhoon Odette,” Andanar said.

Andanar said the public should remain “collectively firm and unyielding” in facing any uncertainty for the new year.

“In 2022, we will continue to face the challenges the new normal entails,” he said. “It is only when we collectively address these challenges that we are able to see the difference we can make together and how we can contribute to the recovery and growth of our country.”

He urged all Filipinos to do their part in the nation’s recovery by complying with all health protocols and minimum health standards prescribed by the government.