Tag: COVID-19

Statements

On the Issues Raised by COA on the DOH’s Management of COVID-19 Funds

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.

*****

Facebook Like
Share to
Mob+Viber
Google
Statements

On Handling the Covid Delta Variant: Proactive Approach Needed

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.

*****

Facebook Like
Share to
Mob+Viber
Google
Statements

Ping: Bayanihan, Hindi ‘Kulungan,’ ang Tamang Gabay sa Pagbabakuna
Image courtesy: Tatler Philippines

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.

Read in ENGLISH: Lacson: Bayanihan, not ‘Kulungan,’ Should be Main Motivation to Get the Jab Done
Continue reading “Ping: Bayanihan, Hindi ‘Kulungan,’ ang Tamang Gabay sa Pagbabakuna” →

Facebook Like
Share to
Mob+Viber
Google
Statements

Lacson: Bayanihan, not ‘Kulungan,’ Should be Main Motivation to Get the Jab Done
Image courtesy: Tatler Philippines

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.

Basahin sa TAGALOG: Ping: Bayanihan, Hindi ‘Kulungan,’ ang Tamang Gabay sa Pagbabakuna
Continue reading “Lacson: Bayanihan, not ‘Kulungan,’ Should be Main Motivation to Get the Jab Done” →

Facebook Like
Share to
Mob+Viber
Google
Statements

Agarang Implementasyon ng Standard Quarantine Protocols, Apela ni Ping

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.

Read in ENGLISH: Lacson: Fast-Track Standard Quarantine Protocols to Benefit OFWs, Economy
Continue reading “Agarang Implementasyon ng Standard Quarantine Protocols, Apela ni Ping” →

Facebook Like
Share to
Mob+Viber
Google