Isko urges gov’t: Instead of face shields, buy tocilizumab and remdesivir

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno. File photo courtesy of Manila PIO

MANILA, Philippines — Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso on Monday urged the government to purchase COVID-19 medicines, specifically tocilizumab and remdesivir, instead of face shields.

“Ako, panawagan ko sana yung isang ahensya ng gobyerno bumili naman kayo ng remdisivir at tocilizumab. Huwag lang face shield ang bilhin niyo,” Domagoso said.

(I am calling on the government agency to buy remdesivir and tocilizumab. Do not limit your purchases to face shields.)

According to Domagoso, these medicines are what will help Filipinos amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Kung bumili ka ng 1,000 na Tocilizumab at P25,000 that is only P25 Million. Kapag bumili ka ng 10,000 na Tocilizumab at Remdisivir wala ka pang 200 Million nayakap mo pa buong Pilipinas. So ako payo ko talaga sa kanila wag face shield ang bilhin ninyo,” he explained.

(If you buy 1,000 Tocilizumab at P25,000 that is only P25 million. When you buy 10,000 Tocilizumab and Remdisivir, not only did you spend have less than 200 million, you also embraced the whole Philippines. So I really advise them not to buy face shields.)

The mayor also urged the government to establish a new hospital.

“Isang taon at walong buwan na wala pa silang naitatag na ospital. These are the things. Nagulat tayo bilyon-bilyon ang ginastos ninyo sa faceshield … sa akin pahirap lang sa tao yan, gastos lang sa tao yan,” Domagoso said.

(It’s already been a year and eight months since they established a hospital. These are the things. We’re surprised you spent billions on the face shield… to me, it’s just torturing people; it just costs people more.)

“Wag natin i-require ang tao wala na nga tayo nabibigay na trabaho, pinagagastos pa natin ang tao. Wala naman science,” he added.

(Let’s not require people when we are no longer giving them jobs, we are still making them spend when there is no science behind it.)

According to him, the Philippines is the only country in the world where people are required to wear face shields in public on top of their face masks.

“Tolicizumab ang bilhin niyo. Remdisivir ang bilhin niyo. Oxygen, makina sa ospital ang bilhin niyo. ‘Yun ang kailangan ng tao kung talagang mahal natin ang tao, sabi niyo. Kung kayo’y para sa tao, sabi niyo,” Domagoso said.

(Tolicizumab and remdisivir are what you should buy. Oxygen and equipment for hospitals. That’s what people need if we really love people, as you claimed. If you’re for people, as you claimed.)

“Kasi sigurado ako as we speak may infected person na naman, as we speak meron na namang nasa severe condition, nasa critical condition, ito ang kailangan ng tao ngayon,” he added.

(Because I’m sure as we speak, there is another infected person, as we speak, there is another in severe condition, in critical condition, this is what they all need right now.)

An investigation by the Senate is currently underway regarding the government’s allegedly questionable purchase of P8 billion worth of pandemic supplies, including face shields.

Malacañang, on the other hand, has since then rebuked Domago’s call, accusing the former of “courting” voters as the local chief executive is expected to run in next year’s elections.

READ: Palace blasts Isko: Call to buy more medicine than face shield meant to court voters

Meanwhile, the Department of Health earlier admitted that it is facing challenges in sourcing the anti-inflammatory drug tocilizumab.

READ: FDA asks tocilizumab maker for more supply

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