I support the recommendation of the economic managers to shift the entire country to Alert Level 1 as well as prepare for the transition from pandemic to endemic.
Our economy has taken a bad beating from the lockdowns and imposed alert levels over the past two years and needs to recover – especially at this time.
That said, our government authorities must also be prepared for the next pandemic or any variant that might again endanger the health situation in the country.
As I always say, there is no trade-off between health and economy. We must always be prepared to confront the problems affecting both. We cannot afford a repeat of 2020 when the government was caught unprepared.
As long as the shortened isolation period is science-based and not a reaction to the overwhelming infection rate, we should not have a problem with that.
While in my case, the original 14-day quarantine period that should end on Jan. 18 is now reduced to 10 days, which sounds good to me – that is not the point.
Health is everything, especially with the almost uncontrollable spread of the virus that we are seeing now.
That said, I will take the side of some concerned health workers unless there is sufficient science-based data to support the Department of Health’s directive.
Mas pinaigting na mass testing, contact tracing at mass booster shots, pagbabakuna sa mga menor de edad mula 5 hanggang 11 taong gulang at paghihigpit sa mga lumalabag sa protocols.
Ito ang mga hakbang na dapat gawin ng gobyerno at publiko sa pagsugpo sa Covid kabilang na ang pagbuhos muli ng Covid cases kamakailan, ayon kay Senador Ping Lacson.
Para kay Lacson, hindi dapat tayo maging kampante hangga’t hindi nauubos ang Covid cases sa bansa. Kasalukuyang naka-home quarantine si Lacson matapos ma-expose sa kanyang anak na nag-positive sa Covid kamakailan.
Aggressive mass testing, mass contact tracing and mass booster shots, vaccination of minors aged 5 to 11 – and a tougher stance against violators.
These are among the steps the government and the public should take in dealing with the Covid menace – including the latest surge of infections, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said.
Lacson, who is in home quarantine after being exposed to his son who tested positive, stressed that no one should be complacent until there are zero cases recorded.
Maagap na pamumuno, kooperasyon mula sa publiko at pagtugon base sa siyensya. Ito ang tatlong mahahalagang bagay na pipigil sa pagdagsa muli ng mga bagong kaso ng Covid na banta sa ating kalusugan at pagbangon ng ekonomiya, ayon kay Senador Ping Lacson.
Pinaalalahanan ni Lacson ang otoridad at ang publiko na makipagtulungan sa siyensya para mapigilan ang pagdating ng bagong wave ng Covid infections sa bansa matapos itaas ng Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) ang alert level sa Metro Manila sa “3” kasunod ng pagdami muli ng kaso ng Covid.
Nitong Linggo, binigyang halimbawa ni Lacson ang ginawang hakbang ni Cavite Gov. Jonvic Remulla na i-reactivate ang provincial Center for Disease Control, at ang pagkokonsulta sa mga mayor hinggil sa pagtataas ng alert level bilang tugon sa pagdami ng Covid cases.
Proactive leadership, cooperation from the public and a science-based approach. These are the three main things needed to prevent the new wave of Covid infections from robbing us of our health and economic recovery, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said.
Lacson reminded authorities and fellow Filipinos to “cooperate with science” to prevent another major significant wave of this lingering public health crisis, after the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) raised the alert level in Metro Manila to “3” following a surge in infections.
On Sunday, Lacson cited the proactive move of Cavite Gov. Jonvic Remulla to reactivate the provincial Center for Disease Control, and consulting the mayors to upgrade the alert level as a response to an upsurge in Covid cases.
Contract tracing ang magiging susi sa pagpigil sa pagkalat ng Omicron variant ayon kay Senador Ping Lacson.
Para sa senador, kailangang tutukang maigi ng gobyerno ang pagtunton sa mga indibidwal na nagkaroon ng contact sa dalawang kaso ng bagong variant na nakumpirma kamakailan ng Department of Health.
“Contact tracing is key. The two have been here for quite a while. I hope all their co-passengers – and those whom they got in contact with before the detection of the Omicron variant – are all accounted for and closely monitored,” ani Lacson sa kanyang post sa Twitter.
Contact tracing is key to preventing the Omicron variant of Covid-19 from spreading.
Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson stressed this Wednesday as he said the government must account for all the people who have come into contact with the two cases confirmed recently by the Department of Health.
“Contact tracing is key. The two have been here for quite a while. I hope all their co-passengers – and those whom they got in contact with before the detection of the Omicron variant – are all accounted for and closely monitored,” Lacson said in a post on his Twitter account.
Makikinabang ang ekonomiya ng bansa sa pagluluwag ng curfew at pagtatanggal sa ilang limitasyon sa sektor ng transportasyon na lubhang naapektuhan ng pandemya, ayon kay Senador Ping Lacson nitong Huwebes.
Bagama’t suportado ni Lacson ang pagbabalik ng ilang negosyo at pabubukas ng ekonomiya, pinaalalahanan pa rin nito ang mga otoridad na siguruhing may pinapatupad pa rin na containment strategies para maiwasan ang pagkalat ng virus.
“Sinusuportahan namin ang move na magbukas ng ekonomiya, para sa ganoon medyo sumigla ang ating business activities. Huwag lang kalimutan ang containment strategy na nakasanayan natin,” ani Lacson sa kanilang kauna-unahang LACSON-SOTTO media forum.
The easing of curfew and transportation restrictions will benefit the Philippine economy which has received quite a beating from the effects of the pandemic, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said Thursday.
But while Lacson supported the moves that would enhance business activities and strengthen the economy, he reminded authorities to maintain containment strategies to prevent the virus from spreading.
“Sinusuportahan namin ang move na magbukas ng ekonomiya, para sa ganoon medyo sumigla ang ating business activities. Huwag lang kalimutan ang containment strategy na nakasanayan natin (I support the moves leading to the reopening of the economy, to revive our business activities. But our authorities must sustain the containment strategies in place),” he said at the first LACSON-SOTTO media forum.
Hanggang hindi nauubos ang kaso ng Covid sa bansa, hindi maaaring sabihin ng gobyerno na naging matagumpay ang pagresponde nito sa pandemya, ayon kay Senador Ping Lacson nitong Sabado.
Ayon sa senador, hindi dapat basta maging kampante ang otoridad bunsod ng pagbaba ng kaso ng Covid nitong mga nakaraang linggo.
“Masasabi nating tagumpay na tayo kung zero tayo sa cases. As long as may isa o dalawa, e libo pa tayo, di pwede sabihin, ani Lacson sa kanyang panayam sa DWIZ radio.
Until the number of Covid cases drops to zero, the government cannot claim success in its efforts to address the threat, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson stressed Saturday.
Lacson said the drop in Covid cases in past weeks should not lull authorities into a false sense of security.
“Masasabi nating tagumpay na tayo kung zero tayo sa cases. As long as may isa o dalawa, e libo pa tayo, di pwede sabihin (We can claim success only if we have zero cases. As long as there are new cases, even one or two, we cannot do so. And we are still having new cases by the thousands),” he said in an interview on DWIZ radio.
Hindi na nga sapat ay lalo pang pinalupaypay ng korapsyon ang pagtugon ng gobyerno sa lumalalang pananalasa ng Delta variant ng COVID-19.
Ito ang nagdadalamhating pahayag ni Senador Panfilo Lacson sa kasalukuyang estado ng mga hakbang ng pamahalaan sa paglaban sa pandemya kasabay ng pagsasalarawan na nakakapanlumo, nakakadismaya at nakakagigil ang mga nalalantad sa imbestigasyon ng Senado sa mga iregularidad sa pagbili ng mga gamit sa paglaban sa COVID-19.
Isiniwalat ni Lacson sa panayam sa kanya ng ANC na kabilang sa mga iregularidad na ito ay ang nabigong pagtatangka ni dating Department of Budget and Management Procurement Service head Christopher Lao para i-reclassify bilang “confidential” sa ilang mga empleyado ng ahensya.
“While the Delta variant is to be blamed, ang ma-blame mo rin government response. We’re not responding accordingly sa prevailing situation. To make matters worse, may corruption involved. Naroon ang problema,” ayon kay Lacson.
Corruption is weighing down the government’s already insufficient response to the heightened threat from COVID-19 due to the Delta variant of the coronavirus, Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson lamented Thursday.
Lacson described as “disheartening, frustrating and revolting” the signs of corruption that have emerged so far in the Senate’s investigation into irregularities in the procurement of medical supplies to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.
These irregularities range from the failed attempt of former Department of Budget and Management Procurement Service head Christopher Lao to reclassify some employees as “confidential” to the Food and Drug Administration’s changing the rules on procurement, Lacson said in an interview on ANC.
“While the Delta variant is to be blamed, ang ma-blame mo rin government response. We’re not responding accordingly sa prevailing situation. To make matters worse, may corruption involved. Naroon ang problema (While the Delta variant is to be blamed for our situation now, government response is not free from blame because we’re not responding accordingly to the prevailing situation. To make matters worse, there is corruption involved. There lies the problem),” he said.
The issue on the DOH’s management of pandemic response funds will definitely be taken up during the deliberations of the DOH’s 2022 budget, once the Senate starts the hearings before approving their budget. This is among the many other issues hounding the agency.
That said, I remember that during DOH Sec. Francisco Duque III’s confirmation hearings at the Commission on Appointments, I asked him some questions on DOH’s supply chain issues and what he intended to do to resolve those issues. He could not answer my questions satisfactorily, if at all.
Am I surprised that he did not even bother to research in spite of his obvious lack of knowledge on the importance of the supply chain in his department? What gives? It’s hubris. He only cares about his boss, the President who, for reasons only they probably know cannot and will not remove him from office in spite of repeated calls from the majority of senators and other sectors.
Sadly, the issues brought to light by the Commission on Audit report, among others, shows that he doesn’t care about the health concerns of the people who he is supposed to serve.
It is sad that as individuals, we have developed this wrong attitude of checking on our medicine cabinets at home only when somebody already gets sick or hurt, when we should always be prepared with making available medicines for common colds, cough, fever as well as unexpected injuries and emergencies.
But it is pathetic that our national health authorities are no different, being reactive instead of proactive. Knowing the Delta variant has already gripped India and Indonesia, it seems they have not prepared adequately.
The reports involving the vessels from Indonesia that moored in Butuan – where the crew became potential spreaders of the Delta variant – are a case in point to highlight that “medicine cabinet” attitude of our authorities. It seems nothing has changed from early 2020, when our health officials failed miserably in the conduct of contact tracing on the fellow passengers of a Wuhan couple who traveled from Cebu to Dumaguete and Manila. Worse, government refused to close our borders to travelers from Mainland China when we already knew that the first known COVID-19 patient came from Wuhan, China in December 2019.
That said, the first order of the day for the next leader of the country is to scout for a more qualified and better person at the helm of the Health Department, and make sure that business and health don’t mix especially during a time of extreme emergency like the pandemic.
Also, the public sector must always take the lead and initiative from the private sector in addressing health emergencies, but not to a point of discouraging the latter from being partners in the endeavor. For, if the private sector has taken the initiative, it can only mean that the government is failing to address the problem at hand. Sadly, it is what is happening.
Kultura ng Bayanihan at hindi ang takot na maaresto kapag tumanggi ang dapat na mangibabaw upang maging ganap na matagumpay ang pagbabakuna sa mga Pilipino laban sa COVID-19.
Ayon kay Senador Panfilo Lacson, dapat na maisip ng publiko na higit na mahalaga ang bakunang kanilang matatanggap dahil siguradong magdudulot ito ng proteksiyon, hindi lamang sa kanila kundi sa mga taong makakasalamuha nila – at ito naman ay magreresulta sa pagsigla ng ekonomiya.
“We should get vaccinated not so much due to the fear of being arrested if we refuse, but because we have the Bayanihan spirit: we want to do our part to protect those around us, we want to do our part to achieve herd immunity, and we want to do our part to finally end the threat posed by the pandemic on our health and on our economy,” apela ni Lacson.
More than the fear of being arrested if they refuse to get vaccinated, Filipinos should get the jab done against COVID-19 as a much-needed show of Bayanihan, Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson said.
Lacson stressed that Filipinos getting the jab means helping their kababayans since they are protecting not just themselves but also those around them.
“We should get vaccinated not so much due to the fear of being arrested if we refuse, but because we have the Bayanihan spirit: we want to do our part to protect those around us, we want to do our part to achieve herd immunity, and we want to do our part to finally end the threat posed by the pandemic on our health and on our economy,” he said.
Para sa maluwag na paggalaw ng mga umuuwing overseas Filipino workers (OFW) at pagpanumbalik ng masiglang ekonomiya ng bansa.
Ito ang dalawang mahahalagang puntos na idiniin ni Senador Panfilo Lacson sa pagsuporta at pag-apela sa National Task Force Against COVID-19 na pabilisin ang pagpapatupad ng standard quarantine protocols sa mga Pinoy na nabakunahan na rito sa Pilipinas at sa ibang bansa.
Ayon kay Lacson, hindi na makakapaghintay pa ang ekonomiya kaya’t ito ay dapat nang pabilisin sa pamamagitan ng mas pinagaang na sistema ng paggalaw ng mga ganap nang nabakunahan laban sa COVID-19.
“Please make it sooner, not later. Mind the economy for a change,” panawagan ni Lacson sa kanyang Twitter account.
Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson pushed for the fast-tracking of standard quarantine protocols for vaccinated Filipinos, to benefit not just returning overseas Filipino workers but also our economy.
As he threw his full support behind the National Task Force Against COVID-19’s move to draw up standard quarantine protocols for Filipinos vaccinated here and abroad, Lacson said economic recovery cannot afford to wait.
“Please make it sooner, not later. Mind the economy for a change,” he said in a post on his Twitter account.
Kailangan nang pasadahan ang mga umiiral na health protocols, katulad ng hindi bababa sa pitong araw na hotel quarantine requirement sa mga dumarating sa bansa, dahil nagiging dahilan ang mga ito ng pag-iwas ng ilang dayuhang mamumuhunan na bumalik para ituloy ang pagnenegosyo.
Ayon kay Senador Panfilo Lacson, mapapabilis ang pagsigla ng ating ekonomiya kung matugunan ng mga awtoridad ang isyu na ito.
“This is one more reason for our authorities to make our health and quarantine protocols more responsive – and more importantly, more sensible. We should consider the plight of permanent residents in the Philippines who run small businesses here. They cannot make sense out of this requirement. Thus they may opt not to return here until the requirement is lifted,” ayon kay Lacson.
We can accelerate our much-needed economic recovery if some of our health protocols – such as a hotel quarantine requirement lasting at least seven days – are revisited and made more responsive and sensible, Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson said.
Lacson said foreign nationals who run businesses in the Philippines are turned off by the prospect of being locked in a hotel, especially if they have already been fully vaccinated before returning to the Philippines.
“This is one more reason for our authorities to make our health and quarantine protocols more responsive – and more importantly, more sensible. We should consider the plight of permanent residents in the Philippines who run small businesses here. They cannot make sense out of this requirement. Thus they may opt not to return here until the requirement is lifted,” Lacson said.
Sen. Ping Lacson at the Senate Committee of the Whole hearing on June 15, 2021
Umaapela si Senador Panfilo Lacson sa Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) ng kahit na kaunting pagluluwag lamang sa pagpapatupad ng health protocols sa mga dumarating na balikbayan at overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
Ito ay sa harap ng katotohanang kailangang gumastos nang malaki ang mga balikbayan sa pagsasailalim sa mga proseso, kasama ang pananatili ng ilang araw na “quarantine” sa mga hotel.
“Find the middle ground. We cannot be too stiff, too stringent. May occasion dapat na flexible tayo,” banggit ni Lacson sa pagdinig ng Senate Committee of the Whole sa COVID-19 vaccination program ng pamahalaan.
Sen. Ping Lacson at the Senate Committee of the Whole hearing on June 15, 2021
Small adjustments by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) in implementing health protocols can be a big help to our balikbayans and returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
This is because balikbayans have had to spend thousands of pesos and suffer much inconvenience including several days’ “quarantine” at a hotel, Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson and Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III said.
“Find the middle ground. We cannot be too stiff, too stringent. May occasion dapat na flexible tayo (There are times we should be flexible),” Lacson said at the hearing of the Senate Committee of the Whole on the government’s COVID-19 vaccination program Tuesday.
Senate President Tito Sotto and Sen. Ping Lacson at the Senate Committee of the Whole hearing on the national COVID-19 vaccination program
May sapat na pondo ang pamahalaan para makamit ang target na herd immunity laban sa COVID-19 para sa taon na ito, at ang kailangan lamang ay tiyakin na hindi kapusin ang suplay at maipamahagi nang tama ang mga bakuna.
Ito ang natumbok ni Senador Panfilo Lacson batay sa mga datus na inilabas ni Department of Finance (DOF) Secretary Carlos Dominguez III sa Committee of the Whole hearing ng Senado sa programa ng pamahalaan sa pagbabakuna nitong Martes.
Batay sa pag-aaral ni Lacson, may sobra pang P5 bilyon ang pamahalaan kung ang target sa herd immunity ngayong 2021 ang pagbabatayan.
“At P446 per dose including logistical costs, we will need P52.3 billion. We have already secured P57.3 billion through borrowings, so we have a surplus of P5 billion for herd immunity,” banggit ni Lacson sa pagdinig.
“So money is not the problem here. Ang kailangan na lang dito maka-procure ng vaccines at may rollout,” dagdag ni Lacson.
Senate President Tito Sotto and Sen. Ping Lacson at the Senate Committee of the Whole hearing on the national COVID-19 vaccination program
The government has more than enough funds to achieve herd immunity at least for this year, and should focus more on ensuring the efficient rollout of COVID vaccines, Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson said Tuesday.
Lacson cited figures from Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III indicating government has P5 billion more than needed for herd immunity for 2021.
“At P446 per dose including logistical costs, we will need P52.3 billion. We have already secured P57.3 billion through borrowings, so we have a surplus of P5 billion for herd immunity,” Lacson said during the Senate Committee of the Whole’s hearing on the national COVID-19 vaccination program.
“So money is not the problem here. Ang kailangan na lang dito maka-procure ng vaccines at may rollout (We just need to focus more on procuring the vaccines and rolling them out),” he added.
For his part, Senate President Vicente Sotto III agreed: “The bottom line is the rollout.”
Mas masigasig pang hakbang ng mga vaccination czar at pagbibigay kalayaan sa mga nangangasiwa at nagpapatupad ng pagbabakuna na gumamit ng epektibong sistema ang susi para maging matagumpay ang misyon ng pamahalaan na herd immunity laban sa COVID-19.
Isiniwalat ito ni Senador Panfilo Lacson bilang payo sa mga awtoridad matapos ang pinakahuling pagpupulong sa pagitan ng ilang senador na kinabibilangan niya, Senate President Vicente Sotto III at Senador Ronald Dela Rosa; at ni testing czar Vivencio Dizon at contact tracing czar Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong.
“We advised them to be more assertive. Senate President Sotto even said that if they are sure they are right and their ‘superiors’ are wrong, they can ‘defy’ them. Also, it is the people on the ground such as mayors who can appreciate the situation better. So it is important that they be given flexibility and more autonomy in the implementation of the vaccination program,” banggit ni Lacson sa panayam sa kanya ng CNN Philippines.
Isiniwalat din ni Lacson na magdadaos ang Senado ng Committee of the Whole hearing sa Martes, Hunyo 15, alas-10 ng umaga, bilang bahagi ng oversight function nito para alamin kung paano ginamit ng pamahalaan ang P82.5 bilyon na inilaan sa programa sa pagbabakuna, at mga kaakibat na paraan at sistema.
More assertiveness from the country’s vaccination czars and more flexibility for implementers and decision-makers on the ground will be crucial to the success of the government’s efforts to accelerate its COVID-19 vaccination drive and achieve herd immunity quickly, Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson said.
Lacson stressed this following a meeting Thursday night between him, Senate President Vicente Sotto III and Sen. Ronald dela Rosa on one hand, and testing czar Vivencio Dizon and contact tracing czar Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong on the other.
He also said the Senate will conduct a Committee of the Whole hearing on Tuesday, June 15, to exercise its oversight function on the government’s utilization of its P82.5-billion for the vaccination program and to evaluate the protocols and guidelines used by the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases. The hearing is initially scheduled at 10 a.m.
“We advised them to be more assertive. Senate President Sotto even said that if they are sure they are right and their ‘superiors’ are wrong, they can ‘defy’ them. Also, it is the people on the ground such as mayors who can appreciate the situation better. So it is important that they be given flexibility and more autonomy in the implementation of the vaccination program,” Lacson said in an interview on CNN Philippines.
Pagtiyak ng pagbabakuna ng publiko laban sa pandemya, at pagkayod pa ng gobyerno para masiguradong sapat ang bakuna at wasto ang pagpapatupad ng vaccination program para matamo ang herd immunity.
Ito ang suhestyon ni Senador Panfilo Lacson para malampasan ng bayan ang pandemya at ang epekto nito sa kabuhayan ng mga Pilipino.
“The best way out of this pandemic is for our people to ‘get the jab done’ and our government to ‘get the job done,’” mensahe ni Lacson sa pamamagitan ng kanyang Twitter account nitong Huwebes.
Our people must get the jab done, but our government must get the job done.
Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson said this is the formula for the Philippines to get out of the COVID-19 pandemic – with the government continuing to find ways to improve the implementation of the vaccination program, and people trusting that vaccines can protect them.
“The best way out of this pandemic is for our people to ‘get the jab done’ and our government to ‘get the job done,’” he said on his Twitter account on Thursday.
Dapat na ilantad at ilatag nang maayos sa publiko ang karagdagang P25 bilyong pondo na kailangan ng pamahalaan upang ipambili ng bakuna laban sa COVID-19.
Nakikita kasi ni Senador Panfilo Lacson na maaring mauwi sa labis-labis na suplay ng bakuna, o kaya ay mapunta sa katiwalian ang situwasyon batay sa kasalukuyang P82.5 bilyon kung mailalaan ang nabanggit na halagang umano’y kinakailangan bilang pantustos.
“Based on the arithmetic I did, the P107.5 billion is way too much for buying the vaccines needed to achieve herd immunity – unless they know something we don’t. But the bottom line is, it is not their money, it’s the public’s. I can only hope the excess amount will not go to corruption,” banggit ni Lacson.
“More importantly, has the government made a commitment to procure the vaccines at such prices? It is important that the officials concerned explain how they will spend the amount. If they have not committed to buy yet, they should exercise restraint in spending our resources which are severely limited already due to the pandemic,” diin ng mambabatas.
Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson is demanding transparency from the government’s health authorities over the supposed need for an additional P25 billion supposedly to procure COVID-19 vaccines.
Lacson said Tuesday the P25 billion, when added to the existing P82.5-billion appropriations for vaccines this year, could result in an oversupply of vaccines – or worse, be lost to corruption.
“Based on the arithmetic I did, the P107.5 billion is way too much for buying the vaccines needed to achieve herd immunity – unless they know something we don’t. But the bottom line is, it is not their money, it’s the public’s. I can only hope the excess amount will not go to corruption,” he said.
“More importantly, has the government made a commitment to procure the vaccines at such prices? It is important that the officials concerned explain how they will spend the amount. If they have not committed to buy yet, they should exercise restraint in spending our resources which are severely limited already due to the pandemic,” he added.
Ipinaabot ni Senador Panfilo Lacson sa Estados Unidos ang kanyang maagang pasasalamat matapos na ibilang ang Pilipinas sa mga uunahing bigyan ng bakuna sa ilalim ng COVID vaccine-sharing strategy nito.
Tinukoy ng mambabatas bilang indikasyon ng pagkakaibigan ang pagkakalahok ng Estados Unidos sa Pilipinas sa mga mauunang pagkalooban ng bahagi ng unang 25 milyon na doses ng bakuna.
“Thank you. We won’t forget this gesture of friendship. Unless World Health Organization protocols are too strict on vaccine donations, it would be better if it’s done bilaterally instead of through COVAX. Our people need the vaccines ASAP,” banggit ni Lacson sa kanyang Twitter account.
Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson thanked the United States government on Friday for making the Philippines one of the first beneficiaries of its COVID vaccine-sharing strategy.
Lacson described as a “gesture of friendship” the inclusion of the Philippines in the US’ list of recipients of the first 25 million doses to be shared.
But he also suggested that this be done bilaterally if possible to make sure Filipinos get the vaccines sooner, even as he pushed for greater efforts by our government to enhance people’s trust in the vaccines.
“Thank you. We won’t forget this gesture of friendship. Unless World Health Organization protocols are too strict on vaccine donations, it would be better if it’s done bilaterally instead of through COVAX. Our people need the vaccines ASAP,” Lacson said on his Twitter account.
“Meanwhile, our government needs to continue enhancing our people’s trust in the vaccines, especially those who remain reluctant to get their jabs done. Our people should be convinced of the truth that getting inoculated can save their lives as well as those of their loved ones – and pay no mind to the disinformation and conspiracy theories,” he added.
We should use all legal – and creative – means possible to have every Filipino vaccinated.
A chance at winning in the lottery and other creative incentives to attract more Filipinos to get themselves vaccinated – these are good moves by the government, both national and local, and even the private sector, to attain herd immunity at the soonest possible time.
This is not only for our people’s healthy well-being, but also for making our economy vibrant again- and ultimately get our pre-pandemic normal lives back again.
While arresting those responsible and filing the appropriate charges against them would be a good start, authorities can take a much bigger step by accelerating the vaccination process by making it more efficient.
Although the 15-minute post-vaccination monitoring of newly vaccinated people should be retained as part of the health protocols, many doctors say that the pre-screening should be done away with because that is the main cause of clogging.
Meanwhile, the forms that vaccine recipients are required to fill up should take care of issues like hypertension and allergies, so why is there still a need to examine their blood pressure? Many whose blood pressures will be taken run a higher risk getting infected. Doon pa nahahawa sa pila dahil papalit-palit ang pawis sa mga braso ng mga magkakasunod na kinukunan.
Similarly, the authorities concerned should further trim the process by making sure recipients who have to fill up numerous forms when registering online are not made to fill up redundant forms onsite. This is aside from making the questions more understandable.
Hindi lang ito dahil sa desperation. Meron pa rin talagang mga ganid at sagad sa buto ang kasamaan na wala nang pinipiling panahon at sitwasyon para magpayaman sa pagsasamantala.
It is not a new and unique practice. One reason why the vaccination program in other countries, particularly the United States, has become highly successful is that recipients of the vaccines are only informed of the brand of the vaccine once they are already on site and ready to get inoculated.
There is no saying that the choice of the brand is totally disregarded, but those who refuse the vaccine immediately available will have to fall out of line and wait for their preferred brand.
Also, some health experts have pointed out the best vaccine is the one available. Besides, clinical trials are a continuing process so no one can really conclude with finality which vaccine brand is better than the other.
While it is a mark of a true leader to consider any measure – no matter how extraordinary – to save us all, proper and prudent steps must be taken in consideration of the country’s long-term survival, thus avoiding that future generations of Filipinos will be left with nothing.
There are a number of Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations (GOCCs) with real estate and other assets, but receive subsidies from the national government year in and year out, mainly because they are mismanaged – if not being used as cash cows by unscrupulous officials.
An audit and inventory of all these assets should be conducted posthaste. The government should retain only those that generate revenue, and sell the rest.
Bago manghuli ng mga pasaway, dapat ay masigurado muna ng mga awtoridad na lahat ng mamamayan, lalo ang mga walang pambili, ay mapagkalooban ng libreng face mask.
Ito ang ipinanawagan ni Senador Panfilo Lacson upang matiyak na lahat ay hindi magkakaroon ng dahilan para hindi magsuot ng face mask, maging ang mga mahihirap na ultimo pangkain ay pinoproblema kung saan hahagilapin.
“Before implementing the arrest order issued against Filipinos not wearing masks, it is but fair and just for the government to provide to those who don’t have the money to buy them,” banggit ni Lacson sa pamamagitan ng kanyang Twitter account.
It is only fair that poor Filipinos who cannot afford face masks deserve a chance to obey the rules first before they get arrested.
Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson stressed this Wednesday amid President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive to authorities to arrest those not wearing face masks properly.
“Before implementing the arrest order issued against Filipinos not wearing masks, it is but fair and just for the government to provide to those who don’t have the money to buy them,” Lacson said in a post on his Twitter account.
Bunga ng kinakaharap na ga-bundok na problema ng bansa na lumala pa dahil sa pandemya, nananawagan si Senador Panfilo Lacson ng kahit na pansamantalang pagkalma sa katiwalian sa pamahalaan at bangayan ng nagbabanggaang grupong pulitikal.
Ayon sa mambabatas, hindi pa malinaw ang hinaharap at kinakailangan na isipin ng lahat na Pilipino ang kapakanan ng bayan at kalimutan na muna, lalo na ng mga mapagsamantala, ang pagpapalago ng sariling bulsa.
“All of us Filipinos should think of the national interest and unite to promote it. Those Filipinos engaging in corruption now, especially those wanting to make dishonest money from COVID, are not exempt from this,” banggit ni Lacson.
Una nang pumasok ang mga impormasyon sa tanggapan ng mambabatas hinggil sa korapsiyon sa pagbili at suplay ng testing kits at mga makina, face masks, face shields, personal protective equipment (PPE) at mga kahalintulad na kagamitan sa pagtukoy at proteksiyon laban sa COVID-19.
With the myriad of problems the country is facing made worse by the pandemic, Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson on Monday called for a much-needed and long-overdue break from corruption and bickering.
Lacson said no one – especially those who continue to engage in corruption to profit from the pandemic – should be exempted from putting national interest above personal aggrandizement.
“All of us Filipinos should think of the national interest and unite to promote it. Those Filipinos engaging in corruption now, especially those wanting to make dishonest money from COVID, are not exempt from this,” Lacson said as he cited information reaching him involving corruption in the procurement and supply of testing kits and machines, face masks, face shields, personal protective equipment (PPE) and similar items.
“Can they at least forget about their greed during the pandemic? I am not saying they can resume their corrupt ways once the pandemic is over, but especially during this period when we face so many problems, they should pause if they cannot stop,” he added in an interview on Eagle News.
Puwedeng gamitin para ipambili ng kinakailangan na P20 bilyon na karagdagang bakuna ngayong taon ang bilyon-bilyong congressional insertions na minarkahan ng Department of Budget and Management (DBM) na for later release (FLR).
Iminungkahi ito ni Senador Panfilo Lacson matapos na makausap nitong nakaraang Huwebes ang tatlong czar na nangangasiwa ng mga programa laban sa COVID-19.
“I suggested that the P20 billion can be sourced from the insertions made by lawmakers marked ‘FLR’ because the implementing agencies concerned were not consulted on the insertions and thus could not implement them,” pagbubunyag ni Lacson sa panayam sa kanya ng DWIZ nitong Sabado.
Why not use the humongous congressional insertions tagged by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) as “For Later Release” (FLR) to meet the P20-billion requirement for COVID vaccines for this year?
Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson raised the possibility following a meeting between him and Senate President Vicente Sotto III, and the “three czars” of the government’s COVID response program last Thursday.
“I suggested that the P20 billion can be sourced from the insertions made by lawmakers marked ‘FLR’ because the implementing agencies concerned were not consulted on the insertions and thus could not implement them,” he said in an interview on DWIZ radio Saturday.
Senate President Vicente Sotto III and I had a good meeting with the three czars of the government’s COVID response Thursday night to discuss red tape issues and the funding needs hounding the country’s fight against COVID. We met with vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr., testing czar Vivencio Dizon, and contact tracing czar Benjamin Magalong.
Habang hinihintay ang pagdating ng maramihang suplay ng bakuna sa bansa laban sa COVID-19, dapat nang maglunsad ng malawakang kampanya ang Department of Health (DOH) para mapalakas ang tiwala ng publiko sa mga ito.
Ito ay ipinaalala ni Senador Panfilo Lacson na nagbabala na maaaring masayang ang dumating na bakuna dahil maraming Pilipino ang walang tiwala rito.
“What our officials including Health Sec. Francisco Duque III should do is improve the public’s trust in vaccines, instead of just announcing when the vaccines will arrive. Besides, if very few Filipinos are willing to be vaccinated, the vaccines that actually arrive may go to waste,” banggit ni Lacson sa panayam ng DZRH radio.
While waiting for COVID-19 vaccines to actually arrive, the Department of Health needs to mount an information drive to improve the public’s trust in vaccines, Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson said Sunday.
Lacson warned of the possibility that the vaccines that arrive may go to waste mainly because many Filipinos have low trust in them.
“What our officials including Health Sec. Francisco Duque III should do is to improve the public’s trust in vaccines, instead of just announcing when the vaccines will arrive. Besides, if very few Filipinos are willing to be vaccinated, the vaccines that actually arrive may go to waste,” he said in an interview on DZRH radio.
Senyales ng pagiging desperado na ng mamamayan bunga ng kawalan ng tulong mula sa pamahalaan sa panahon ng pandemya ang paglutang ng mga community pantry sa ilang lugar sa Metro Manila.
Ayon kay Senador Panfilo Lacson, bagama’t isang magandang gawain at ehemplo ng pagtutulungan at pagkakaisa ng mamamayan ang community pantry, sa kabilang banda ay makikita rin ang desperasyon ng mga tao dahil hindi na nila maasahan sa tulong ang pamahalaan.
“It is good that through the community pantries, we see mutual aid by neighbors and barangay residents. But this is also a sign of desperation, that people can no longer rely on government to help them,” pagsiwalat ng mambabatas sa panayam sa kanya ng DZBB radio.
Kasabay nito ay nagpaalala rin ang mambabatas sa mga nagtutungo sa mga nabanggit na lugar.
“That said, those involved in community pantries must also remember to follow the proper health protocols to make sure they do not get infected,” dagdag ni Lacson.
While they are a welcome development, the makeshift community pantries that have popped up in parts of Metro Manila amid the continuing COVID-19 crisis may also be considered a sign of desperation, Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson said Sunday.
Lacson said it is good that residents take the initiative to help each other, but added such efforts show they can no longer rely on the government for help.
“It is good that through the community pantries, we see mutual aid by neighbors and barangay residents. But this is also a sign of desperation, that people can no longer rely on government to help them,” he said in an interview on DZBB radio.
