‘Nakikinig naman kami,’ says Palace exec on pandemic response feedback

Residents of Baseco, City of Manila line-up to get their financial assistance from the government after stricter quarantine restrictions were imposed in Metro Manila and four nearby provinces due to a sharp increase in COVID-19 cases. (Niño Jesus Orbeta/Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines — It is unfair to say that the government is not listening to feedback on its pandemic response, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said Monday.

“Nakikinig naman kami. Nakikinig naman ang gobyerno at lahat naman ng dapat at kailangang gawin ay tinutugunan naman namin at binibigyan naman natin ng pansin,” Nograles said in an interview on ABS-CBN News Channel.

(We are listening. The government is listening and we are doing what needs to be done and we are addressing what needs to be addressed.)

“So I think it’s unfair to say na government is not listening,” he added.

Nograles was asked about criticisms that the government is not listening to feedback on how it is handling the pandemic.

NOGRALES / FEBRUARY 24,2020
/ SAVED FEBRUARY 4, 2021
Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles during the Laging Handa press breifing on the update of COVID 19.
INQUIRER PHOTO

Vice President Leni Robredo, in particular, called out the government for not accepting that there are gaps in its response to the health crisis.

But Nograles said that the government is doing “everything” and has put in place a feedback mechanism down to the local level.

“We’re doing everything…we’re getting from the ground, kasi malawak naman ang gobyreno, kasama na diyan ang LGUs (local government units), kasama ang iba’t-ibang agencies and departments of government, we get feedback also, may feedback mechanism tayo diyan,” he said.

(We’re doing everything…the government also includes the LGUs, as well as the different government agencies and departments, we get feedback from them, we have a feedback mechanism.)

“From that feedback, we also get yung inputs nila on how we can improve yung ginagawa nating pagtugon at response natin dito sa laban against COVID-19,” he added.

(From that feedback, we also get inputs on how we can improve our response against COVID-19.)

Currently, Metro Manila and four nearby provinces are under the modified enhanced community quarantine due to the sharp increase in COVID-19 cases.

On Sunday, the Philippines logged 10,098 additional COVID-19 infections, pushing the country’s total to 936,133.

Meanwhile, 72,607 more patients recover from the disease. The country currently has 141,089 active COVID-19 cases.

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