Robredo to Duterte admin: Communicate clearly on gov’t measures vs COVID-19

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo has appealed to the Duterte administration to be clear in its public pronouncements about the infectious respiratory disease, COVID-19, in order to avoid confusion and panic.

In her radio program on Sunday, Robredo cited, for instance, the contradictory statements between Malacañang officials, other government agency officials, and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on the implementation of a metro-wide curfew in a bid to prevent the transmission on the novel coronavirus or SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19.

“Kung sino-sino iyong humaharap, nagbibigay ng statement. Pagkabigay ng statement, sasalungatin noong iba. Eh kagabi nga si Secretary Andanar, siya pa ang nagsabi na fake news ng isang statement ng MMDA,” she explained.

(Anyone speaks, giving statement. After giving the statement, others would contradict. Just last night, Secretary Andanar even said a statement of MMDA was fake news.)

“Sila-sila, hindi nagkakaintindihan; hindi nag-uusap. Dapat sana, siniguro nila na iyong pagharap ng Pangulo sa publiko noong isang gabi, napag-usapan na iyong lahat na detalye para iyong Pangulo na iyong magbibigay ng statement or kung hindi si Pangulo, kung sino iyong official, para hindi kaniya-kaniya,” she added.

(There’s confusion among them; they’re not talking. Ideally, they should’ve ensured that when the President faced the public the other night, they’ve already talked about the details so that the President when he gives the statement or if not the President, whoever official, so it would not be to each his own.)

She also slammed people circulating fake information about COVID-19, urging troll farm operators to just use the money to buy the protective gear of frontline personnel — especially since soldiers and policemen manning quarantine checkpoints appear to be short on protective equipment.

“Parati kong sinasabi na iyong pambayad niyo sa trolls, utang na loob, itulong niyo na muna kasi kailangan na kailangan iyong tulong ngayon. Ibili na lang nila ng protective gear para sa ating mga frontliners,” she said.

(I always say that payments for the trolls, please, make it help those who are in need right now. Use it to buy the protective gear for our frontliners.)

“Kanina, may nakita akong pictures ng mga pulis sa checkpoint ng… sa may Bulacan yata, sa boundary ng Bulacan – walang protective gear. Parang sinasabak naman natin sila na walang kalaban-laban. Dapat sana iyong nagma-man ng mga checkpoints, mayroon ding sufficient na pang-protect sa sarili nila,” she added.

(A while ago I saw a picture of cops at a checkpoint in Bulacan I think, on the boundary of Bulacan – they have no protective hear. It seemed like they are being sent over to a place where they don’t have the means to fight. Ideally, those who man the checkpoints should have some gear to sufficiently protect them.)

Prior to making that suggestion, Robredo has “apologized” for giving numerous suggestions on how the government should respond to the public health problem.  However, she also assured that such recommendations would continue, as these are aimed at improving the government’s approach.

“Marami tayong gagawin ngayon — pagpasensyahan na po — pero marami tayong gagawin ngayon na unsolicited advice.  Unsolicited advice para maayos, lalo pang mapahusay iyong ginagawa,” she noted.

(We have many things to do right now – apologies – but we have many things to do right now that are unsolicited advice. Unsolicited advice to make the initiatives better.)

While the Vice President has recently offered the public suggestions on how to combat COVID-19, she also gave pointers to the government about the adoption of a work-from-home scheme, on assuring continuous supply, and allegations of underreporting of cases, among others.

President Rodrigo Duterte has declared a state of public health emergency throughout the country and placed the entire Metro Manila under “community quarantine” from March 15 to April 14, 2020, due to COVID-19.

The Philippines has so far confirmed 140 people with COVID-19, including 11 deaths.

COVID-19 is a respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus or SARS-CoV-2, which outbreak started in China’s Wuhan City in Hube province in late 2019.

People who have COVID-19 could recover since for most people, its symptoms were mild like fever and cough. But the illness could also be worse or serious for others such as pneumonia, especially for older adults and those with existing health problems.

The World Health Organization has declared COVID-19 a pandemic since it has infected more than 150,000 people and killed nearly 6,000 all over the world.

KGA