The Palace confirms that President Rodrigo Roa Duterte signed Proclamation No. 934 yesterday, March 21, 2020, declaring the fourth week of March 2020 as a National Week of Prayer. In said proclamation, the Chief Executive urged all Filipinos of faiths, religious traditions and backgrounds to unite our hearts in prayer as we face the threat of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
The Office of the President has been monitoring the situation on the ground as it has received reports of the concerns of our doctors, nurses and hospital staff who are at the forefront of our country’s efforts to combat COVID-19, such as their inevitable exposure to the virus and possible infection therefrom, among others.
We therefore urge everyone to join us in praying for their safety and health, as well as for their immunity and strength to continue fighting for their countrymen amidst this global health crisis. This threat against our medical practitioners highlights the exigent and urgent necessity for all Filipinos to heed the call of the government for them to strictly follow the protocols imposed by it on community quarantine and social distancing. As aptly stated by our frontliners, “We stay at work for you. Please stay at home for us.”
We also ask our countrymen to include in their prayers the military and law enforcement officers, government officials and personnel, and all Filipinos who sacrifice and risk their lives for duty and country. With this, the public can be assured that the government is exhausting all its efforts and means to mitigate the effects of COVID-19 in the country, including those against our frontliners.
Salvador S. Panelo
Chief Presidential Legal Counsel
& Presidential Spokesperson
