Waiting for vaccine won't stop COVID-19 in Philippines, says Robredo

The Philippines needs to actively slow down the spread of COVID-19 in the country instead of waiting for the development and distribution of vaccines made by foreigners, Vice President Leni Robredo said on Wednesday.

In a speech as regards the COVID-19 pandemic, Robredo pushed for several measures to control the spread of the virus in the country such as the collation of credible data and timely contact tracing.

"Hindi mapipigil ang pandemya kung basta mag-aabang na lang tayo ng bakuna. Kailangang maampat ang pagkalat nito sa lalong madaling panahon," Robredo said in her speech posted on Facebook.

"Nagsisimula ang lahat sa tamang datos, na pundasyon ng tamang desisyon. Mula dito, matutukoy ang kung sino at aling mga lugar ang dapat tutukan pagdating sa mass testing, contact tracing, at suporta sa mga komunidad at ospital," she added.

Robredo made the remark two days after President Rodrigo Duterte said he had asked Chinese President Xi Jinping to include the Philippines among the first recipients of the vaccine which may be developed in China.

China on Wednesday said it would prioritize the Philippines in the distribution of its COVID-19 vaccine.

Robredo called for fast release of COVID-19 tests, among other proactive approaches, to slow down the rise of COVID-19 cases in the country.

“Una, linisin at pabilisin ang pagkalap ng datos ukol sa COVID-19. Kung magagawa ito, magiging mas matibay ang pinagmumulan ng mga desisyon, polisiya, at programa para mapigilan ang paglaganap ng virus,” Robredo said.

"Hindi mapipigil ang pandemya kung basta mag-aabang na lang tayo ng bakuna. Kailangang maampat ang pagkalat nito sa lalong madaling panahon,” she added.

There are now over 90 laboratories processing Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) tests in the country but not all of these 90 laboratories are able to report COVID-19 test results on a daily basis due to lack of manpower and laboratory supplies.

“Nagsisimula ang lahat sa tamang datos, na pundasyon ng tamang desisyon. Mula dito, matutukoy ang kung sino at aling mga lugar ang dapat tutukan pagdating sa mass testing, contact tracing, at suporta sa mga komunidad at ospital,” Robredo said.

“Kung mali at buhol-buhol ang pag-input ng data, babagal ang validation; babagal din ang proseso ng decision-making. Dapat alamin kung bakit nagkakabacklog, kung saang mga laboratoryo ito nagaganap, at tulungan silang makahabol,” she added.

Robredo cited that while 113,000 individuals tested positive for COVID-19, the confirmed COVID-19 cases are just around 80,000.

“Ibig sabihin, kailangan talagang humabol ang verification, dahil maraming positive ang hindi agad naisasama sa opisyal na data. Dapat magkaroon ng communications campaign para ang mga nagpapagamot mismo ang tumiyak na wastong impormasyon ang naitatala tungkol sa kanila,” Robredo said.

“Ikalawa, at karugtong nito: Isama ang mga pamantasan at academic institutions para tumulong sa validation process ng DOH,” she added.

Robredo also backed pool testing wherein multiple samples will be tested using one COVID-19 testing kit for faster turnover of results.

“Puwede pag-aralan ang surveillance at pool testing. Sa ganitong paraan, mas marami ang matetest, pero mas makakatipid sa mga testing kit,” Robredo said.

“Sa ganitong paraan, on-time ding mahahabol ng mga contact tracers ang mga dapat pang i-test,” Robredo added.

In addition, Robredo said that temporary shelters should be provided to locally stranded individuals (LSIs) where physical distancing can be observed, as well as a free RT-PCR test should be made available for locally stranded individuals to prevent them from possibly transmitting COVID-19 to their respective hometowns.

As for the healthcare system, the Vice President said that hospitals and health workers should be provided with enough resources to meet the demands of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Natural dapat na pagtuunan ng ibayong pansin ang lahat ng pag-aaruga, lahat ng tulong, lahat ng kasangkapan at serbisyong magagamit nila,” Robredo said. -NB, GMA News