LAOAG CITY, March 15 (PIA) – Laoag City Mayor Michael Marcos Keon said economic situation is improving with the gradual decrease of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases.

During his guesting at Network Briefing News of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), he told program anchor Bing Kimpo on the city government’s economic recovery plans.

“Because of the decline in COVID-19 cases, business establishments have been able to open… As long as we can keep the numbers down, more businesses will open up, providing more employment,” said Keon.

During the National Vaccination Days held on March 9-11, the city mayor said they were able to vaccinate 1,530 residents who received their COVID-19 shots either first, second, or booster dose.

He also thanked the national government and other key officials for the support in the successful vaccination rollout in the city.

Recently, the city government received commendation from the Department of Health Region I for obtaining the highest number of vaccinated residents in the entire region.

“I’d just like to take this opportunity to really thank the national government for helping Laoag City reach herd immunity. It was my advocacy to fight the spread of COVID-19 dito sa Laoag City. On December 16, 2021, we have vaccinated 77.94 percent of its eligible population. We were able to do this because provincial government gave us vaccines, but it was my reaching out to Senator Bong Go at that time, requesting him for more vaccines and he was the one who put me in touch with Secretary Carlito Galvez,” added Keon.

The city mayor mentioned that National Task for COVID-19 Chief Implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. ensured the delivery of additional vaccines for the city thus, more residents received COVID-19 jabs.

“We could not have done this without the support of the provincial government and the national government. So, I wish to thank President Rodrigo Duterte, Senator Bong Go, and Secretay Galvez for having helped us achieve herd immunity for a short span of time,” ended Keon.

As of March 13, Laoag City has recorded one new confirmed case which brings the total number of active cases to six and total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases to 6,690. (JCR/MJTAB, PIA Ilocos Norte)