Duterte orders FDA, DOST to augment workforce, operate 24/7

President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday night ordered the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Department of Science and Technology (DOST) to operate 24 hours a day as the country grapples with the coronavirus pandemic.

In a televised address, Duterte urged the FDA and DOST to augment their workforce so that they can “work day and night.”

“We are operating in a crisis kaya sabi ko, for the FDA and 'yung kay secretary sa DOST, magdoble sila ng tao and the FDA pati ‘yung mga laboratories ng DOST, your offices must run 24 hours,” the president said.

Duterte also called on healthcare professionals, and even medicine graduates, to volunteer for the FDA and DOST.

“I have authorized itong dalawang opisina, FDA pati ‘yung DOST to employ as many that could be required para madalian and to enable the agencies to work day and night,” he said. “Sabi ko kasi, we are fighting a war here.”

The government earlier approved the deployment of medical graduates to aid in the country’s COVID-19 response. 

The Department of Health also launched an emergency hiring program after it found that around 15,000 more healthcare professionals are needed to beef up the existing workforce. —LDF, GMA News