MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Tuesday rebuked anew critics of the government’s COVID-19 response even as it expressed openness to Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon’s suggestions on how to improve government efforts to address the pandemic.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque in an online briefing questioned detractors of the government’s COVID-19 response as he refuted Drilon’s claim that the Inter-agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases has failed.
READ: Drilon believes IATF failed to address COVID-19 pandemic
“Ano ba naman ang gusto ninyo pa? Alam ko po oposisyon kayo, pero sa panahon ng pandemya hindi po natin kinakailangan na pinupulitika,” Roque said.
(What else do you want? I know you are from the opposition but in times of a pandemic, there’s no need for politicking.)
However, Roque then said Malacañang is open to proposals in order to make better the COVID-response of the government.
“Nagpapasalamat po kami kay Sen. Drilon kasi bumoto naman siya sa We Heal as One Act, wala naman pong nag-object diyan. Pero siguro po kung mayroon siyang naiisip na iba pang pamamaraan eh iyan naman po trabaho talaga ng mga mambabatas – magbigay ng polisiya,” he said.
(We thank Senator Drilon because he voted for the We Heal as One Act, nobody objected. But if he has other ways, he should say it because that’s part of the duties of lawmakers.)
“Tingnan po natin, ano pong suhestiyon ninyo sa pamamagitan ng panukalang batas. Pero kung mayroon naman pong magandang ideya, bukas po kami, wala po kaming hindi pinakikinggan,” he went on.
(Let’s see what your suggestions are through your proposed laws. But if you have a good idea, we are open, we listen to everyone.)
Roque nevertheless reiterated that the government was able to prevent the University of the Philippines’ (UP) forecast of reaching 3.5 million COVID-19 infections through IATF’s efforts.
“Pangalawa, hindi naman po dapat ikabahala nang tuluyan itong numerong ito. Bakit? Dahil kakaunti lang po ang nagkakasakit ng severe o ng acute,” Roque said.
(Second, the numbers should not cause alarm. Why? Because only a small number are severe or acute cases.)
“At bagamat 80,000 ang ating total nga na kaso – 80,000 more or less – ang death rate wala pa pong dalawang libo.”
(Although we have more or less 80,000 cases, our death rate has not yet reached 2,000.)
As of July 28, the Philippines has recorded 83,673 COVID-19 infections.