Malacañang chided experts from the University of the Philippines after repeatedly broadcasting their suggestions on the government’s COVID-19 response efforts, urging them to relay these privately to authorities instead.
The OCTA Research team is composed of experts from the University of the Philippines and the University of Santo Tomas that has made regular projections on the country’s coronavirus infections.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the team only has “1 or 2 epidemiologists” which is “not the same number of experts” working with the country’s own inter-agency task force.
“I wish they would refrain from making these recommendations publicly. They can probably endorse or course their recommendations privately to the IATF, nang hindi naman po napapangunahan (so as not to cause confusion), highlighting the fact that classifications are normally announced by no less than the President himself,” Roque told the media.
“If the IATF itself does not make public its recommendations to the President, sana the OCTA team— and this is really an appeal para hindi nagkakagulo (so that there will be no confusion)— can also course their recommendations to the IATF privately,” he added.
This statement was made when the spokesman was asked for a reaction to the OCTA group’s recent recommendation to place parts of Bauan, Batangas, Calbayog, Western Samar, and General Trias, Cavite under stricter lockdowns.
