Vice President Leni Robredo laid down concrete plans to combat the pandemic in the country. This was streamed two days after the president’s State of the Nation Address (SONA), which have been criticized for lacking content and plans.
In a video message, Robredo gave recommendations to different agencies of the government on how to intensify the pandemic response in the Philippines.
“Hindi mapipigil ang pandemya kung basta mag-aabang na lang tayo ng bakuna. Kailangang maampat ang pagkalat nito sa lalong madaling panahon. Nagsisimula ang lahat sa tamang datos, na pundasyon ng tamang desisyon,” Robredo said, contrary to President Rodrigo Duterte’s pronouncements that vaccine is just around the corner.
[The pandemic will not be stopped if we are just going to wait for a vaccine. We need to curb the spread of the virus as soon as possible. It will all begin in using the right data, which is the foundation of right decisions.]
Robredo also believes that the government knows what should be done, and it should act on it fast,
“Wala akong duda na mulat ang pamahalaan dito. Pero malaki ang krisis, at maraming dapat gawin, kaya kailangan nating lahat maging mas maliksi sa pagtukoy sa mga puwang, at maging mabilis at malikhain sa pagpuno nito.”
[I have no doubt that the government knows this. But the crisis is tremendous, and there are things to do, that’s why we need to be more efficient in identifying gaps, and become quicker and more creative in filling these.]
Robredo also noted the backlogs of Department of Health (DOH) in confirming COVID-19 cases. Moreover, the vice president also called for a more efficient distribution of the social amelioration program (SAP).
She left with words of hope and trust that the Filipinos can overcome the health crisis the entire world is facing.
“Hindi inutil ang Pilipino, kundi may tapang at talino na humarap sa anumang hamon. Hindi talunan ang Pilipino. At tiyak na magtatagumpay tayo laban sa pandemyang ito. Uulitin ko: Kinaya na natin ang marami pang ibang hamon, at kakayanin natin ito.”
[Filipinos are not helpless, we have courage and wisdom to face any crisis that may befall us. Filipinos are not defeated. I am assured that we will be able to triumph against this pandemic. Let me repeat myself: We have overcame worse, and we can do it again.]
