Bong Go, Robin Padilla seek inquiry on PH readiness vs monkeypox

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MANILA, Philippines — Senators Christopher “Bong” Go and Robin Padilla have filed a resolution seeking for a Senate inquiry on the country’s readiness to control and suppress monkeypox.

Under Senate Resolution No. 84 which was filed on Monday, the two senators called on the Senate committee on health and demography to conduct an inquiry in aid of legislation on the Philippines’ preparedness on the threat of monkeypox. Go is the chairperson of the said Senate panel.

There is an urgent need to assess the government’s readiness to combat the disease as the country is still reeling from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the senators noted in their resolution.

“Sobra pong naging eye-opener para sa atin ang pagpasok ng COVID-19 sa bansa. Nakita po natin kung gaano kaimportante na palakasin ang ating healthcare system. Sobrang dami po ng kailangang ayusin. We hope that, guided by good science, we know better how to handle monkeypox this time,” Go further said in a statement.

(The presence of COVID-19 in the country became an eye-opener for us. We saw how important it is to strengthen our healthcare system. We need to fix so many things.)

“Palagi kong sinasabi na huwag tayo maging kumpyansa. Palagi tayo dapat one-step ahead sa kahit anumang krisis na posibleng dumating. Ngayon po na may naiulat na kaso ng monkeypox sa bansa, kailangan natin maghanda para hindi na kumalat ito tulad ng pagkalat ng COVID-19,” he went on.

(I always say that we should not be complacent. We should always be one step ahead in any crisis that may come. Now that there is a reported monkeypox case in the country, we need to prepare for it not to spread like COVID-19.)

READ: WHO declares global health emergency over monkeypox outbreak

Aside from the country’s preparedness, Go and Padilla said the probe should enable the public to get more information about the disease by inviting health authorities and experts.

“Ito ang nais nating talakayin sa inquiry na ito. Para magabayan ang policy makers sa ano ang kailangan, at para mabigyan ng tamang impormasyon ang mga Pilipino will paano maiwasan ang sakit,” Go said.

(This is what we want to tackle in this inquiry. So that policymakers will be guided on what is needed and for Filipinos to receive correct information on how to avoid the disease.)

The Philippines detected its first case of monkeypox — declared by the World Health Organization as a public health emergency of international concern — on July 29.

As chair of the Senate committee on health, Go expressed support for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s aspirations and initiatives for the country’s health care system.

He likewise vowed to coordinate with the Department of Health and other concerned agencies to craft strategies and measures to boost the country’s capabilities against health crises that may come.

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