Duque: 2020 is ‘most difficult year’ in history of DOH

MANILA, Philippines — In Secretary Francisco Duque III’s opinion, 2020 has been the toughest year so far in the history of the Department of Health (DOH) as the agency found itself groping for solutions in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Basta ako ang masasabi ko lang (What I can only say is), 2020 is the most difficult year in the history of the department, the most difficult,” he said during the Kapihan sa Manila Bay online media forum on Wednesday.

However, Duque was quick to point out that even the most powerful countries have also grappled with the unforeseen pandemic that has already claimed the lives of over a million individuals globally.

“Wala naman akong sama ng loob dahil alam ko naman na buong mundo has been brought down to its knees. Lahat, even the most powerful countries, talagang pinaiyak ng COVID-19,” said Duque.

(I don’t have any resentment because I know that the entire world has been brought to its knees. Everyone, even the most powerful countries, has shed tears because of COVID-19).

“Lahat talaga umiyak dito, sobrang takot, sobrang pag-aalangan, sobrang maraming mga unknowns (Everyone cried, people are afraid and worried. There are a lot of things unknown),” he added.

Nevertheless, he noted that the government has continued to improve its capacity for its pandemic response amid the continuous threat of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes the disease.

He specifically praised the information drive on the pandemic that was launched by the DOH. “In that area, we have scored, I believe, much. We have performed well,” the Health chief said.

Meanwhile, Duque also noted improvements in the current figures on the country’s testing capacity and laboratories as compared to the situation at the onset of the pandemic.

“Nine months ago, we had almost like what, just six quarantine facilities and you can count with the fingers of your hands how many beds we had. Now we are over 170,000, and our testing laboratories [increased] from one to 191, our capacity from 300 tests daily to about 34,000 or 35,000 a day,” he added.

He also said that the government has “managed to keep low” the critical care utilization rate in hospitals.

To recall, the government reimposed strict lockdown measures in Metro Manila and other nearby provinces in August, in response to the plea of medical workers for a “timeout” to prevent the collapse of the healthcare system amid the continuous surge in coronavirus infections.

In November, the DOH noted that the country saw its overall number of new COVID-19 cases drop by 25 percent in October, which was partly driven by the decline in the number of infections in Metro Manila.

But earlier this December, Duque warned that there are already signs of a “beginning surge” of COVID-19 cases, particularly in parts of Metro Manila, as well as in Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, and Cordillera Administrative Region ahead of the holiday season.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire had also warned of a surge in coronavirus infections in the country due to expected family reunions and other merrymaking this Christmas. She said, however, that this could be toned down by strict adherence to health protocols.

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