Duterte can only declare public health emergency when COVID-19 threatens nat'l security —Drilon

President Rodrigo Duterte may only declare a public health emergency when the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) already becomes a threat to national security, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said Sunday.

Drilon made the remark after Senator Bong Go announced on Saturday that the President has agreed to issue a declaration of a public health emergency in the Philippines as the number of COVID-19 cases rose to six.

Citing Republic Act 11332, or the "Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act," Drilon said the Secretary of Health has the authority to declare an epidemic of national concern, like in the case of COVID-19.

"And when the same threatens national security, the President shall declare a state of public health emergency and mobilize government and non-governmental agencies to respond to the threat. So only in cases where the epidemic threatens national security," the senator pointed out in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV aired on GMA News TV.

Drilon said only the President can determine whether an epidemic is already a threat to national security, given the wealth of information given to him.

"Ngayon, 'yan na nga epidemic, pero kapag naging national security concern or threatens national security, the President may declare a state of public health emergency," he said.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III earlier said the DOH has recommended the declaration of public health emergency after it raised its alert to Code Red Sub-Level 1 following the confirmation that the fifth COVID-19 patient was indeed a case of local transmission.

Duque said such a declaration "will facilitate mobilization of resources and ease processes, including procurement of critical logistics and supplies and intensifying reporting and quarantine measures."

But Drilon said a declaration of a public health emergency should not lead to skirting of regular procurement processes.

"Walang nakalagay sa batas na ipagtabi natin o balewalain natin 'yung procurement laws. May bidding pa rin yan," he said.

Drilon pointed out that medical equipment to address symptoms of COVID-19 like pneumonia and other respiratory ailments should already be adequate and in place as they are included in the annual national budget.

When a public health emergency is declared, Drilon said the only difference is that there should be stricter monitoring and reporting of diseases and nothing more.

"Ang batas sinasabi lamang mandatory reporting requirement at kung naging national security issue ay puwedeng mag-declare ng public health emergency. Ngunit 'yan nakalagay sa batas, to mobilize national agencies to respond to the threat," he said. —Erwin Colcol/KG, GMA News