Senator Bong Go has expressed support for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s decision to lift the state of public health emergency due to COVID-19, emphasizing the evolving need to focus now on economic recovery as the cases of COVID-19 continue to decline.
“After over three years, the country is no longer under a state of public health emergency due to COVID-19, following a proclamation issued by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr,” Go said.
“We respect the decision of President Bongbong Marcos, Jr. of lifting the state of public health emergency in our country. We trust that it was arrived at after careful consideration of the present health issue and the need to finally open up the economy,” the legislator added.
Despite supporting the lifting, the lawmaker issued a call to the executive branch to guarantee that healthcare workers receive their due benefits as outlined in Republic Act No. 11712.
This includes unpaid COVID-19-related allowances and death benefits reserved for those who tragically lost their lives during the fight against COVID-19.
“Gayunpaman, ang apela ko sa executive branch ng gobyerno ay siguraduhin pa ring maibibigay sa ating mga healthcare workers ang dapat nilang nakuha noon ayon sa batas,” the senator said.
“Kasama na diyan ang mga hindi pa nabibigyan ng kanilang COVID-19-related allowances, pati ang mga death benefits para sa mga nagbuwis ng buhay.”
“Kasama na diyan ang mga hindi pa nabibigyan ng kanilang COVID-19-related allowances, pati ang mga death benefits para sa mga nagbuwis ng buhay sa ating laban kontra COVID-19,” he added.
Go, who chairs the Senate Committee on Health, stressed the need for the government to fulfill its commitments and responsibilities, regardless of the lifting of the state of public health emergency.
“With or without the state of public health emergency, the government should fulfill its obligations to protect the lives of Filipinos, safeguard their health, and give what is due to them, especially to our medical frontliners,” he said.
Addressing his countrymen, Go urged Filipinos to stay vigilant, look after their health, and prioritize their well-being.
“Patuloy pa rin tayong mag-ingat, alagaan ang ating katawan at unahin ang ating kalusugan.”
“Ang apela ko naman sa mga kababayan natin, patuloy pa rin tayong mag-ingat, alagaan ang ating katawan at unahin ang ating kalusugan. Marami na tayong natutunan at naisakripisyo nitong panahon ng pandemya na magsisilbing aral sa atin upang mapangalagaan ang ating komunidad laban sa iba’t ibang health threats,” he expressed.
Go then pledged to persistently push for legislation and support programs initiated by Marcos aimed at enhancing the country’s health system and helping the less fortunate.
“Bilang chair ng Senate Committee on Health, patuloy akong magsusulong ng mga panukalang batas at susuporta sa mga programa ni Pangulong Marcos Jr. na makakapagpabuti ng ating health system at makakatulong sa mahihirap,” he said.
Finally, Go highlighted the necessity of bringing medical services closer to the people and ensuring that the more vulnerable populations, especially impoverished Filipinos, are not neglected.
“Ilapit natin sa tao ang serbisyo medikal mula sa gobyerno at siguraduhin nating hindi napapabayaan ang mga higit na nangangailangan, lalo na ang mga mahihirap na mga Pilipino,” he concluded.
The Presidential Communications Office recently announced that Marcos had signed Proclamation No. 297. This proclamation effectively ended the public health emergency, a state that was first initiated by former President Rodrigo Duterte in March 2020 as a countermeasure to the pandemic.
As stated in the document signed on Friday, July 21, “While COVID-19 remains to be a serious concern for certain subpopulations and requires continued public health response, the country has maintained sufficient healthcare system capacity and low hospital bed utilization rates even after the liberalization of COVID-19 health protocols.”
