Willie Ong asks: Why no infectious disease hospital for COVID-19 patients?

Dr. Willie Ong (Photo from his Facebook account)

MANILA, Philippines — Vice presidential candidate Dr. Willie Ong on Saturday lamented that  no infectious disease hospitals for COVID-19 patients were built despite the implementation of the Bayanihan to Heal as One law.

Speaking at the CNN Philippines vice presidential debate, Ong, who is running with Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, said the government should have built an infectious disease hospital for COVID-19 patients.

“Salamat kay Sen Kiko, Tito Sen na naipasa nila yung Bayanihan, kaya lang bakit hindi nagtayo ng hospital,” Ong said, referring to fellow vice presidential bets Senator Kiko Pangilinan and Senate President Vicente Sotto III.

“Sana nagtayo tayo ng infectious disease hospital, para hindi nailagay ang COVID patient sa PGH (Philippine General Hospital) kasi nagrereklamo ang mga doctors kasi nadidisplace yung mga cancer patients, kaya maraming namatay sa atin noong 2021. Kung magkaroon ng separate hindi na mao-over burden ang mga hospitals kasi nagkakahawaan eh,” Ong said.

In reaction, Sotto said Bayanihan 1 was crafted to respond to the problems created by the pandemic lockdowns, specifically unemployment.

“Bayanihan 1 was crafted specifically to address the problem of those who will be victims of the lockdown. I should say yung mga nawalan ng trabaho,” Sotto said.

Sotto is one of the principal sponsors of the Bayanihan To Heal as One law.

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/MUF