Yes to public health approach, no to scare tactics vs COVID-19 – Robredo

MANILA, Philippines — The government should implement a more public health approach instead of sowing fear through a military presence., Vice President Leni Robredo stressed Thursday.

LOCKED DOWN AGAIN Cebu City is back under the more stringent enhanced community quarantine status due to the steady rise in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases. The local government is conducting mass testing, as shown in this file photo, to contain the pandemic. (PHOTO FROM CEBU CITY PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE )

In an interview on ABS-CBN News Channel’s (ANC) Headstart, Robredo said the government should instead focus on having people understand that governance is a shared responsibility.

“I saw pictures of Cebu yesterday and ‘yung nakita ko military.  Parang hindi siya magandang visualization for the people na this is a health pandemic bakit may mga tangke sa daan? (It does not look good that while we are battling a pandemic, why are there military tanks in the streets?) Sa akin, the military has been very helpful even to our office pero I think we should take a more public health approach,” Robredo said.

Vice President Leni Robredo. (INQUIRER.net file photo / Noy Morcoso)

“Secretary [Delfin] Lorenzana, Secretary [Carlito] Galvez are very effective managers pero people should understand for them to cooperate na ito, hindi ito takutan eh (We shoudl not sow fear),” the Vice President added.

Lorenzana  is national defense secretary while Galvez is the chief implementer of the National Task Force against COVID-19 (NTF).

Robredo also cited an interview with Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas, who said that no arrests were made in their city over curfew violations.

**Robredo said the public is more likely to cooperate with policies such as physical distancing if they understand their role rather than the government sowing fear such as threats of arrest.

“Ako personally, I have faith na if people understand why we need to do this, if people understand that they have a stake, they have a responsibility, that governance is a shared responsibility, mas magiging cooperative sila rather than tinatakot (they will cooperate more if they are not threatened),”  Robredo said.

“Ang problema ko dito pag nakita na ng mga tao ang tangke, ano ba to giyera? Ang giyera natin dito against COVID-19, and hindi ito nadadaan sa pag-sow ng fear among the constituency,” the Vice President added.

gsg