Cabinet clusters discuss COVID-19 response at pre-SONA forum

Top administration officials on Wednesday discussed the steps that the government has so far taken in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The updates were given by the Cabinet officials at a forum and press conference organized by the Presidential Communications Operations Office ahead of President Rodrigo Duterte’s fifth State of the Nation Address on July 27.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, co-chairperson of the Participatory Governance Cluster of the Cabinet, said the government would intensify its contact tracing efforts by hiring additional contact tracing members. He said there should be contact tracing teams focusing on barangays and business centers.

Social Welfare Secretary Rolando Bautista said the government expects to reach 80% of the 12 million household beneficiaries under the second tranche of the social amelioration program by the end of July.

The assistance is now being released to beneficiaries through partner financial service providers, but Bautista said there have been limitations due to know-your-customer rules.

For the protection of public health, the government will focus on the continuous improvement of the health care facilities by increasing the number of fully-equipped isolation rooms, critical care beds in hospitals and other crucial medical equipment, said Bautista, who represented the Human Development and Poverty Reduction Cabinet cluster.

Bautista also said the Cabinet has advanced efforts in expanding universal health care to all Filipinos and in addressing hunger and malnutrition among children, teenage pregnancy, as well as the prevalence of non-communicable and preventable diseases.

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said while the economy had taken a hit, “the President and your government have long laid the groundwork for the economic recovery of our country.”

“Nahirapan tayo katulad ng mga bansa sa buong mundo ngunit dahil sa repormang pinansiyal at maayos na pangangasiwa sa ating ekonomiya bago pa man tumama ang pandemya, tayo ay isa sa pinakamalakas, pinakamatibay at pinagkakatiwalaang ekonomiya dito sa rehiyon,” he said.

Nograles also reported that the Inter-Agency Task Force on Zero Hunger, which he chairs, is currently in the process of harmonizing government programs meant to ensure food security and reduce hunger.

According to Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado, the government has so far released P374.89 billion to finance efforts against the pandemic, with the Department of Social Welfare and Development receiving the largest share in the amount of P200.98 billion for the Social Amelioration Program.

Avisado added the 2021 national budget will be focused on further buttressing the health care system, ensuring food security, enabling a digital government and economy as well as helping communities adjust to the so-called "new normal."

In a video message, Duterte said the Filipinos “always emerge victorious” following numerous trials because of “our unity and bayanihan as a people.”

“As we look to the future with much hope and positivity, let us continue to work together to build a better and more prosperous Philippines, and for ourselves and the next generation of Filipinos,” he added.

The pre-SONA activities started on July 8 with a forum and press conference by the government’s Economic and Infrastructure clusters.

The last forum, which will be held on July 22, will be participated by the Cabinet’s Security, Justice, and Peace Cluster and the Climate Change Adaptation, Mitigation, and Disaster Reduction Cluster. -MDM, GMA News