Escudero: Gov’t not presenting new initiatives vs. COVID-19, just stats

The national government could do more than just presenting statistics on COVID-19 cases, Sorsogon Governor and former senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero said on Wednesday.

Interviewed on Super Radyo dzBB, Escudero said the government has enough funds and power to intensify its measures to curb the pandemic.

“Kaya ang panawagan ko sana sa DOH [Department of Health] at IATF [inter-agency task force] at naniniwala ako na kaya nila... kaya pang may magawa ang gobyerno sa dami ng pondo at their disposal at ganoon din sa power na ibinigay sa kanila ng Kongreso, mas may kaya pa silang gawin,” Escudero said.

“Imbes na sa araw-araw, nakikita ko sa DOH eh puro statistika na lang ng nag-positive, nag-recover at namatay ang ginagawa nila eh. Wala pa akong naririnig so far at least nitong nakaraang dalawang linggo o isang buwan na bagong inisyatibo kaugnay sa laban natin sa COVID maliban sa paghihintay natin ng vaccine,” he added.

On Twitter, Escudero underscored that the DOH, as the lead agency of the IATF, should lead in a proactive way and not simply be content in reporting out statistics about COVID-19.

“I think DOH is just ‘riding out’ COVID-19 until a vaccine is invented. I don’t see nor feel any active or serious efforts being done by it,” he said.

The Philippines now has 85,486 confirmed COVID-19 cases.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said major changes on the government’s response on the pandemic will be disclosed by President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday night. — BM, GMA News