Duterte Cabinet members convene to tackle health workers’ plight

FILE PHOTO — President Rodrigo Roa Duterte talks after holding a meeting with the IATF-EID core members at the Malago Clubhouse in Malacañang on July 30, 2020. SIMEON CELI JR./PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Some members of the President Rodrigo Duterte’s Cabinet convened on Saturday evening to discuss recommendations on medical groups’ request to recalibrate coronavirus efforts in the country, Palace spokesman Harry Roque said.

In a statement, Roque said Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea called the meeting with key members namely Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado, Trade chief Ramon Lopez, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Palace Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Michael Ong and Presidential Assistant for Foreign Affairs Robert Borje.

Roque said he was also present during the said meeting.

Other attendees are National Task Force (NTF) Chief Implementer Carlito Galvez Jr., Deputy Chief Implementer of the NTF Vince Dizon and One Hospital Incident Command Chief Leopoldo Vega.

Senator Bong Go, chair of Senate committee on health, also attended the said meeting, Roque said.

The Palace spokesperson did not disclose the contents of the meeting but he noted that recommendations will be sent to Duterte for review.

“Recommendations from the aforesaid meeting will also be submitted tonight for the President’s review,” Roque said.

The medical community led by Philippine College of Physicians asked the government to again impose enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila.

Medical workers said the coronavirus lockdown will address hospital workforce, contact tracing, transportation safety, workplace safety and tracing of COVID-19 cases, among others.

The Department of Health earlier logged 98,232 total number of coronavirus disease cases. This includes 65,265 recoveries and 2,039 deaths.

CFC