City governments have strictly enforced quarantine rules and regulations and city mayors have come up with various measures to ensure public health and safety.

 

City governments have provided much needed assistance to the people whose livelihood and employment were affected by the quarantine, as well as financial and other forms of assistance to mitigate the effects of the enhanced community quarantine.

 

Many cities have also implemented projects, such as mobile botika, mobile palengke, and other similar activities for the convenience of the lockdown population.

 

Cities who are major agricultural producers have ensured that food production remain in high gear during this critical period in order to feed the vast number of people who are affected by the prolonged quarantine.

 

More importantly, cities all over the country have focused in safeguarding the health of the citizenry. City governments have strengthened their health delivery systems. They have conducted strict monitoring of suspected and probable cases, established isolation and quarantine facilities, and promoted mass testing in their localities.

 

I therefore laud the efforts of my fellow city mayors for their dynamic and proactive response to this crisis and for the innovative practices that they have pursued.

 

My fellow Filipinos, we cannot claim that the fight against COVID-19 is over.

 

The war against this deadly pandemic has not yet been won. We cannot lower our guard until such time that a vaccine against COVID-19 has been developed. Let us therefore remain vigilant and continue to implement strict public health and safety measures.

 

But as we look forward to the period of recovery and rehabilitation of our stalled economy, the Filipino people can rest assured that our cities will be at the forefront once again in restarting and reviving our national economy. After all, cities are considered as the engines of economic growth. Major economic activities take place in our cities and almost half of the national gross domestic product is generated in cities. I am confident that once again, our cities will take the lead in national economic development and in fighting poverty when we enter the period of recovery.

 

Together, let us heal as one.

 

Together, let us rebuild our country.

 

Together, let us move forward to greater heights of prosperity.

 

One city. One nation.

 

May God bless the Philippines."