Calls swamp Robredo’s reactivated Bayanihan e-Konsulta program

MANILA, Philippines — Former Vice President Leni Robredo’s Bayanihan E-Konsulta program—a channel for telemedicine consultations—has been reactivated and was being swamped by calls amid the southwest monsoon’s onslaught.

Robredo in a statement on her social media pages late Wednesday night said they are looking for more volunteers who can man consultation lines, to address rising medical needs amid flooding and evacuations.

READ: How the OVP responded during pandemic’s 2nd year

“A mere 3 hours after we reactivated Bayanihan e-Konsulta, we’re already swamped with patients.  Thank you to our volunteer doctors who are working double time to accommodate everyone,” Robredo said.

“However, we need more volunteer call bridging agents to maximize the number of doctors we have onboarded already. To those who wish to volunteer, please message the number below. Thank you very much,” she added.

READ: Metro Manila now under state of calamity due to Typhoon Carina

Robredo’s post was accompanied by a photo from Bayanihan E-Konsulta, which stated that the telemedicine channel is ready to address general medical cases like leptospirosis cases—especially for areas without access to doctors or hospitals.

Telemedicine services can be accessed through bit.ly/AB-BEK, while possible volunteers can contact 09688990719.

Bayanihan E-Konsulta was first formulated in April 2021, when Robredo was still Vice President, to respond to possible COVID-19 cases during surges. The telemedicine channel was one of the several pandemic-related programs, like Swab Cab or mobile COVID-19 testings, free bus rides for essential industry workers or the Libreng Sakay.

During the over-one year duration of the E-Konsulta program, Robredo said at least 58,000 individuals were helped—thanking volunteers for making the initiative successful.

At one point, Robredo said that she and her staff were surprised that the Bayanihan E-Konsulta had such a big impact, because she and her staffers were only thinking of programs that can fill in some gaps in the government’s COVID-19 response.

Instead, it became one of the country’s primary telemedicine consultation avenues, with people consulting the Office of the Vice President and its partner volunteers for various COVID-related issues, including availability of hospital beds.

Several roads and communities over Metro Manila and nearby provinces were flooded due to non-stop rains brought by the Carina-intensified southwest monsoon.

According to the Department of Social Welfare and Development, at least 10,818 families in the National Capital Region (NCR) alone—or 46,116 individuals—were rescued and are currently staying in evacuation centers due to the floods caused by the southwest monsoon.

Classes at all levels and government work have been suspended in NCR as the region was placed under a state of calamity.

Despite rains ceasing and Typhoon Carina weakening, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration warned that flooding and strong rains may still persist, especially over Ilocos Sur, Benguet, La Union, Pangasinan, Ilocos Norte, Tarlac, Zambales, Bataan, and Pampanga, Abra, Metro Manila, Rizal, and Bulacan.

According to Pagasa, Zambales, La Union, Pangasinan, and Benguet can expect 100 to 200 millimeters (mm) of rain, while for Metro Manila and its nearby provinces, 50mm to 100mm of rain can be felt.