IATF co-chair and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles. FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — To say that the government’s COVID-19 response is a militaristic approach is not accurate as medical experts are consistently consulted in steps being taken by the government’s pandemic task force, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said Wednesday.
“Hindi naman po accurate yan. Meron po tayong mga medical experts that advise the IATF [Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Diseases co-chairperson],” said Nograles who is also IATF’s co-chairperson when sought for reaction on criticisms that the government is using a militaristic approach on the pandemic.
(That’s not accurate. We have medical experts that advise the IATF.)
Although the IATF is chaired by Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, several retired uniformed personnel are also leading the pandemic response including Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., among others.
Nograles noted that the pandemic is not “purely a medical fight,” hence the need for a “multi-sectoral approach.”
“It’s not simply a health pandemic. Kasama ekonomiya, kasama ang society, ang social needs,” Nograles stressed.
(It’s not simply a health pandemic as the economy, society, and social needs are also included.)
Since President Rodrigo Duterte imposed quarantine measures in parts of the country, law enforcers have become more visible to ensure that guidelines are being followed.