Cayetano ‘satisfied’ with Duterte’s first report on COVID-19 response

MANILA, Philippines — House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano on Friday said he was “satisfied” with President Rodrigo Duterte’s first report on government measures to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

In a virtual press conference, Cayetano said that while he was satisfied with the report, it is still the implementation of the measures that matter.

“It was a five-day report… so more or less, ang sinama nito, kung paano nila iniimplement. Hindi nilagyan ng attachment but they made reference (It was a five-day report…so more or less they included there how they would implement the measures. They did not include attachments but they made references),” Cayetano said.

“As far as the report is concerned, we’re satisfied but it’s always in the implementation nung programa yung details. That’s why instead of doing things the normal way na maghintay, we’re coordinating with departments already to give our inputs kung paano mapapabilis ito,” he added.

(As far as the report is concerned, we’re satisfied but it’s always in the details of implementation. That’s why instead of doing things the normal way by waiting, we’re coordinating with departments already to give our inputs on how they can hasten the measures.)

Section 5 of Republic Act No. 11469 or the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act which granted the President additional powers to address the coronavirus pandemic states that Duterte, on Monday of every week, shall submit a weekly report to Congress “of all acts performed pursuant to this Act.”

Duterte submitted his first report to Congress on March 31, a day after his supposed deadline.

“The administration asked us for flexibility sa batas. Sabi nila kung as much as possible hindi masyadong specific yung batas, basta it follows the Constitution and gives the president flexibility sa pondo na kailangan sa medical equipment sa mga medical workers at tsaka doon sa social amelioration or yung P100 billion a month for two months para sa ating kababayan,” Cayetano said.

(The administration asked us for flexibility in the law. They said that as much as possible it should not be too specific while still following the Constitution and giving  the president flexibility on funds needed for medical equipment for medical workers and for the social amelioration or the P100 billion a month budget for two months for our countrymen.)

“‘Yun din namn ang sinabi namin sa mga departamento—try to make the guidelines very very flexible para yung magi-implement, hindi maraming tanong,” he added.

(That is what we are saying to government departments—try to make the guidelines very very flexible so that the implementors would not have too many questions.)

Cayetano said he would wait for Duterte’s next report so he could compare the two reports.

/MUF