The undersigned organizations express full support to our dedicated public and private sector health workers and first-responders who serve at the frontlines of the battle agains the outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic.

We thank these dutiful men and women who work tirelessly in selfless anonymity to keep us safe, protected and informed, even as they risk their lives and the welfare of their families.

With the ramping up of the country’s alert status to Code Red sub-level 1, emergency proclamation and stepped-up mobilization of government resources, we trust that their response capability and protection from inherent health hazards has been augmented substantially, thereby enabling them to carry on with renewed vigor and enthusiasm.

We acknowledge the round-the-clock vigilance of the Department of Health and are banking on sustained stringent implementation of enhanced surveillance, prevention, and containment protocols. We trust that the valuable lessons learned from previous epidemic episodes – SARS, H1N1, and MERS CoV – will be applied and supported by the mobilization of the entire government machinery, at both national and local government levels.

We strongly urge our members and the public to fully cooperate with the government and our health workers in ensuring early detection and prompt medical response. We are determined to ensure that the health and welfare of our employees, customers, clients, and stakeholders is not adversely affected or compromised.

We believe that whole-of-government mobilization complemented by a whole-of-society approach are critical factor in mitigating the impact of the current state of public health emergency on the country’s hard-earned gains in achieving sustained and inclusive growth. With focused attention and unified efforts, we believe that the resiliency and determination of our nation in overcoming the threats posed by COVID-19 will prevail.