Senator and Chair of the Senate Committee on Health Christopher "Bong" Go urged the public not to be complacent in the ongoing pandemic by continuing to use masks as an additional layer of protection whenever possible.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., signed Executive Order 3 last 12 September, which makes wearing of masks optional in open spaces or non-crowded outdoor areas with good ventilation. Senior citizens and immunocompromised individuals, however, are highly encouraged to wear their masks.

Go, meanwhile, emphasized the need for the government to step up its vaccination efforts in order to persuade more Filipinos to receive their full vaccine and booster shots.

He underscored that vaccines are key to the country's return to normalcy.

Earlier, Go encouraged the public to take advantage of the ongoing "Bakunahang Bayan" program of the Department of Health wherein more vaccination sites were set up to ramp up vaccination.

In order to convince more Filipinos, particularly those who are still hesitant, to get their Covid-19 shots and boosters, Go reiterated his plea for the government to continue providing incentives to those who have obtained complete vaccine and booster doses.

To ensure that the country is better prepared for future pandemics, Go also refiled in the Senate his twin bills, Senate Bill 195 and 196, which would create the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the Virology Science and Technology Institute of the Philippines, respectively.

Meanwhile, Go and San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora on Monday led the distribution of the Department of Social Welfare and Development's livelihood assistance grant to qualified beneficiaries.
A total of 300 beneficiaries from San Juan City received P10,000 from the DSWD.