THE NATIONAL government is not behind text messages supposedly from President Rodrigo Duterte and his daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte urging Filipinos to get vaccinated against Covid-19, Malacañang said on Thursday.
Some Filipinos said they received text messages from unknown numbers urging them to get vaccinated signed with: “from President Duterte at Mayor Sara Duterte #SafePilipinas #SafeDavao.”
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque denied that the text messages were from his office, even as he acknowledged that the President would be the best “communicator” to help boost vaccine confidence among Filipinos.
“Ako po yung in charge sa communications pagdating po sa bakuna and I can say na bagamat ang Presidente po ang best communicator, hindi po kami nagpakalat ng ganyang text (I am in charge of communications when it comes to the vaccine and I can say that although the President is the best communicator, we did not spread such a text),” he said in a Palace press briefing.
On Wednesday, Duterte appeared in a government infomercial to invite Filipinos to get vaccinated against Covid-19, stressing that it is key to beating the pandemic.
“I invite all our kababayans to be vaccinated at the earliest possible opportunity because this is the most, if not the only way, effective way to defeat Covid-19 pandemic,” Duterte said in a nearly two-minute commercial.
He reminded Filipinos to get vaccinated for themselves as well as their loved ones.
“Let us all keep in mind that the vaccine will not only protect you from the virus, it will also protect your loved ones, especially the sick and elderly,” he added.
Last March, the Presidential Communications Operations Office-Office of the Global Media and Public Affairs (PCOO-OGMPA) also released a series of explainer videos dubbed "The VAXplainer” in time for the rollout of the government’s vaccination drive.
It aims to boost the confidence of the Filipino people in Covid-19 vaccine by educating them about the importance of getting vaccinated and the efficacy of the vaccines against the virus.
“The VAXplainer is only a part of our numerous efforts and commitment to make Filipinos fully understand the importance of vaccines and convince them to be inoculated with the available safe and effective vaccines provided by the government,” PCOO Secretary Martin Andanar said in a news release.
Andanar said the PCOO also has Laging Handa Dokyu Series, Network Briefing, and Laging Handa Public Briefing, among others, “as part of our information campaign to inform the people”.
He added that “The VAXplainer” is part of the PCOO’s drive to encourage Filipinos to heed the call of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, the Philippine government, and the international community to be vaccinated against Covid-19 to save lives, revive hopes, and shape our future.
More than five million doses of Covid-19 vaccine have been administered since the Philippines launched its vaccination drive on March 1.( Azer Parrocha)
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