In light of the mutating COVID-19 virus, Senator Bong Go urged the government to await the advice of health experts before deciding whether or not to lift the state of public health emergency.
“It may be premature as of now. Hintayin lang po natin ang pag-aaral ng ating mga health experts and I’m sure it will be based on good science,” Go said in an ambush interview after personally aiding residents in Nabunturan, Davao de Oro.
“Hintayin lang po natin ang pag-aaral ng ating mga health experts and I’m sure it will be based on good science.”
“Lahat naman po ito, mga bagong variant, nagmu-mutate, pinag-aaralan nilang mabuti at kung dapat na bang i-lift (ang state of public health emergency),” the legislator added.
According to the lawmaker, health authorities are in the best position to determine and recommend when to lift the said status.
The Department of Health stated in October that if three requirements are met, including a plateauing of cases, increased immunization coverage, and a low number of severe and critical hospital admissions, it may recommend to President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. the lifting of the state of public health emergency.
Former President Rodrigo Duterte initially placed the Philippines under a state of public emergency on March 8, 2020, when the first local COVID-19 transmission was reported by the Department of Health. The declaration will continue to be “in force and effect” according to the proclamation until it is revoked or lifted by the President.
The former president also placed the country under a state of calamity on March 16, 2020 for six months. The proclamation was extended in September 2020 for another year, and then extended again in September 2021.
The state of calamity allows the government “to continue the implementation of COVID-19 vaccination program, augment pandemic response funds, monitor and control prices of basic necessities and prime commodities, and provide basic services to the affected populations.”
Meanwhile, the state of public health emergency calls for the public to comply with the government’s response plans and mechanism, especially when it comes to using resources to prevent the spread of the virus. It also allows the government to provide public health emergency benefits and allowances to frontliners.
In August, Marcos extended the present government declarations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in order to sustain efforts to overcome the global health crisis and other emerging health threats.
“May advantage din po kasi ang state of health emergency. ‘Yung state of calamity pwede nilang gamitin ang pondo kaagad sa pagtulong to address the COVID problem.”
“May advantage din po kasi ang state of health emergency. ‘Yung state of calamity pwede nilang gamitin ang pondo kaagad sa pagtulong to address the COVID problem,” the senator explained.
“So, pag-aralan munang mabuti. Habang nandiyan si COVID, para sa akin, delikado pa rin po ang panahon. Ngunit kung talagang pawala na at ma-attain na natin ang herd immunity, pwede na sigurong i-lift para makabalik na rin tayo sa ating normal na pamumuhay,” he concluded.
