Senator Bong Go. FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go expressed his support and commended the efforts of the Department of Health, including the health workers, in addressing the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) despite the danger it poses.
“Alam niyo, sa totoo lang, huwag nating sisihin ang DOH. I commend our health officials for doing their job. Napakahirap po ng trabaho nila. Sinusugal po nila ang lahat at, in fact, ‘yung buhay nila mismo nakataya dito tuwing nakaharap sila sa mga pasyente sa ospital,” Go said.
In an interview after visiting fire victims in Butuan City on Saturday, March 14, the Senate Chair of the Committee on Health and Demography asked the public to support the health officials and workers instead of putting the blame on them, especially with the continuous rise in the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country.
“Suportahan natin sila. Ito ang mga panahon na dapat natin suportahan at ‘wag natin batikusin. Hindi po ito ang panahon ng pagbabatikusan. Alam niyo, ‘yung mga bumabatikos sa gobyerno, tumulong na lang po kayo. Hindi kayo nakakatulong. Maawa kayo sa ating kapwa Pilipino. ‘Yung pagbabatikos ninyo walang kabutihan, nagdadagdag lang ng panic, at ‘yung pag-spread ninyo ng fake news, nakadadagdag lang ng kalbaryo sa ating bayan,” Go added.
The senator also emphasized that the government is doing its best in providing the needed assistance for those who may be affected during the 30-day community quarantine in Metro Manila.
Go said that with regards to food supply, the Department of Social Welfare and Development is ready to help to mitigate the situation.
“Handa sila sa mga food packs. Mga pagkain ay handa po sila mag-distribute po, lalong-lalo na po dun sa mga nangangailangan at apektadong residente,” Go said.
In addition, the Department of Finance has also secured funding from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) to support the DOH in fighting COVID-19.
“The DOF has sourced P2.5 billion and P450 million from Pagcor and PCSO respectively, to fund the DOH to combat the COVID-19 contagion, which includes acquisition of test kits,” according to DOF officials.
Go admitted that the test kits have been scarce and international donations must be approved first by the Food and Drug Administration, but he also emphasized that the shortage is a worldwide problem because the virus is novel, with no test kit, vaccine, or cure immediately or readily available.
Moreover, Go also highlighted that the government has already acted on incidents of overpricing of goods in Metro Manila as the start of the 30-day community quarantine nears.
The senator said that President Rodrigo Duterte will release an executive order addressing this issue and that the Department of Trade and Industry is also actively monitoring establishments to deter hoarding and overpricing as COVID-19 spreads in the country.
“Meron na pong ipapatupad na EO (Executive Order) ang ating Pangulo. Sa mga nag-o-overprice, nagho-hoarding, nagsasamantala, pwede kayong hulihin, ikulong, kaya huwag niyo pagsamantalahan ang panahon na ito,” Go said.
“Ito ang panahon na dapat kayong tumulong. Isipin niyo ang karamihan nating kababayan na naghihirap at kailangan ang kooperasyon at tulong niyo. Sa ngayon po, sabi ni (Department of Trade and Industry) Secretary (Ramon) Lopez, may parating na supply at may price ceiling na dapat sundin,” he added.
The senator also appealed to the public to be patient and wait for further recommendations and guidelines from the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) that will be released regularly and in the coming days.
The recommendations and guidelines will also be reviewed by President Duterte, who will meet with the different members of the IATF on Monday, March 16, Go told reporters.
“Talagang malaking adjustment ang gagawin ng ating mga kababayan. Hingiin lang po namin ang pag-intindi ninyo. Sa Lunes po ay magpupulong muli si Presidente along with the military, police, doctors, health officials along with Inter-Agency Task Force at pag-uusapan kung ano pa dapat baguhin o i-amend dun sa mga nalabas na guidelines po,” Go said.
Go also shared to the members of the press that both he and President Duterte have been found negative on their COVID-19 tests. He also emphasized that he is observing and exercising social distancing, especially in Metro Manila but also insisted that as a public servant, he will continue to help Filipinos in need of government attention, most especially those fire victims he recently visited in Butuan City.
“I am ready to serve and I am ready to die serving the people,” Go said.
“Ako naman po, we observe social distancing, lalong-lalo na po sa Metro Manila ay susunod kami dyan, kaya lang po hindi natin pwede ipagpaliban ang pagtulong dito sa mga nasunugan. Alam mo, kailangan rin po nila ng pagkain, kailangan rin nila ng financial assistance, ‘yung iba nga dito nag-aaral, lalong-lalo na po kapag na-quarantine ang lugar dito, wala silang trabaho. Mas lalong kailangan nila ng tulong natin sa kanilang pang araw-araw na pamumuhay,” Go added.
The senator hopes that he will continue to be healthy so he can always serve the Filipinos. He said, “Ako? Negative ako… Hopefully gusto ko po sana maging healthy at fit kami ni Pangulo para po makapagserbisyo kaming tuloy-tuloy sa kapwa Pilipino. Salamat po.”