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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Rody hails frontline workers as soldiers of war on COVID

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President Rodrigo Duterte paid tribute Friday to the country’s “selfless and dedicated” COVID-19 pandemic frontliners who likened them as the soldiers who fought for the country’s freedom in his Araw ng Kagitingan message.

Rody hails frontline workers as soldiers of war on COVID
MODERN DAY HEROES. As the nation marked the Day of Valor, frontline workers such as doctors, nurses and their kind, and even soldiers, cops and local officials including village watchmen could be considered heroes of the modern-day given their sacrifices and bravery in the war against COVID-19, an unseen yet deadly enemy.

Duterte also called on all  Filipinos to exhibit a “greater sense of patriotism and solidarity,” especially now that the country was still grappling with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

“As we continue to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic, we take a moment to honor the fortitude displayed by our selfless and dedicated frontliners whose unrelenting commitment in this fight reflects the heroism of the warriors of Bataan that continues to inspire in us a greater sense of patriotism and solidarity during these trying times,” he said. 

The President also honored the country’s fallen soldiers “whose sacrifice became the bedrock of our resolve to uphold our most cherished liberties.”

The valor of our forebears, which was exhibited during the defense of Bataan almost eight decades ago, has left an indelible mark in our history and shaped our indomitable spirit to rise after every fall,” he added.

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“May this awareness resonate among us as we strive to become worthy heirs to the nation that they fought and bled for,” Duterte said.

April 9 marks The Philippines’s 79th Day of Valor, honoring Filipino and American soldiers who fought in Bataan during World War II.

In the House of Representatives, Speaker Lord Alan Velasco honored the heroism of Filipino troops who fought the Japanese invaders tenaciously in Bataan and Corregidor during World War II.

“We are one with the nation as we commemorate Araw ng Kagitingan, or Day of Valor, to honor the heroism of our kababayan who bravely and selflessly fought for peace during World War II. This grateful country will forever be indebted to their supreme sacrifice in defense of the motherland so that we and future generations of Filipinos may live in freedom,” Velasco said in a statement.

The months-long resistance put up by Filipino and American troops in Bataan and Corregidor upset the Japanese was timetable and enabled Australia to escape invasion.

Australia was used by the Allied Forces as the jumping ground towards reconquest of the areas that were seized by the Japanese during the early stages of the war.

“Today, we see the bravery and courage of our war veterans among our health care workers who are putting their lives on the line to help and save our countrymen from the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. To honor them and reciprocate their hard work and dedication, let us not add to their burdens by staying healthy and strictly observing established health and safety protocols,” he said.

Velasco added in the statement: “It is also important that the government ensure the timely release of their essential pay and benefits due them, reflecting the health hazards and other challenges they confront every single day from working during this pandemic.”

Meanwhile, in conjunction with the Filipino people’s commemoration of Araw ng Kagitingan, health workers  held protests  from wards during their lunch break to express their vexation at the continued criminal neglect and inefficiency by the Department of Health and the Duterte government to hear and favorably respond to their legitimate demands, appeals and needs.

Rody hails frontline workers as soldiers of war on COVID

Among their urgent demands are the immediate release of their Special Risk Allowance, meals, transportation and accommodation allowance under Bayanihan Law 2 and the long overdue benefits of Performance Based Bonus of 2018, 2019 and 2020. They also demand for mass hiring of regular health workers to handle COVID-19 patients.

“Today, we offer our highest respects and salutes to our fellow health workers who are continuously serving the people with highest degree of responsibility, efficiency and wholeheartedly. Likewise, we honor our comrades who died in the line of duty. We appreciate compliments and honors that we are being called as modern heroes, but what we need right now is support and protection from our government to ensure our safety, health, and welfare,” said Robert Mendoza, Alliance of Health Workers national president, in a statement.

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