What Duterte Said in His Weekly Speech (March 22)

Here's a recap of what President Rodrigo Duterte said in his weekly speech to the nation. This one was delivered on Monday, March 22.

• Duterte on surge of COVID-19 cases: Metro Manila is heavily laden with human beings.
• Health Sec. Francisco Duque III warns that the Philippines' daily COVID-19 tally could go even higher after recording over 8,000 new cases.
• READ: Daily COVID Tally Crosses 8,000-Mark, a First for Philippines
• Duque says close contacts of COVID-19 patients should quarantine.
• Duque says there is a need to boost contact tracing and other COVID-19 response measures.
• Duterte asks why the increase in COVID-19 cases has become so "exponential."
• Duque says COVID-19 vaccines are not yet enough which is why people need to observe minimum health standards.
• COVID-19 vaccine czar Sec. Carlito Galvez Jr. says the surge in COVID-19 cases is not limited to the Philippines. Other countries experiencing it too.
• Galvez says some 370,000 healthcare workers have already been vaccinated.
• Galvez says donated COVID-19 vaccines from China's Sinovac will arrive on Wednesday.
• Galvez says the government is eyeing to have some 500,000 to 1 million vaccines per week by April or May.
• Galvez says the Philippines' "most steady" supplies of COVID-19 vaccines will be from China and Russia.
• Finance Sec. Carlos Dominguez III says he responded to senators' queries on government financing for the COVID-19 response.
• Dominguez says the government plans to borrow P3.3 trillion this year.
• Dominguez says the government needs P82.5 billion to inoculate 100% of the country's adult population.
• Duterte assures the public that loans for COVID-19 vaccines are still with the bank and do not go through the government but directly to vaccine manufacturers.
• Duterte says "not so many" are being affected by the new COVID-19 restrictions in the sense that movement is curtailed.
• Duterte again mentions government officials dismissed due to various misdemeanors.
• Galvez says private companies and local government units can procure COVID-19 vaccines through tripartite deals with the national government and vaccine manufacturers.