COVID-19 CRISIS

Vergeire says DOH is doing its best; Escudero insists response wanting

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire on Thursday defended her department from the criticism of Sorsogon Governor and former senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero that the agency is not doing enough.

Interviewed on GMA Network’s "Unang Hirit," Vergeire pointed out that the Department of Health (DOH) has been doing the best it can to address the COVID- 19 pandemic since January.

“Kanya kanya po tayo na opinyon,” she said.

“Kami naman po nakikita ng mga tao that we are doing all our best in this response na naka-high mode po kami sa aming mga response since January na ginagawa natin ito,” she added.

On Wednesday, Escudero said that the national government could do more

Escudero pointed out that the government has enough funds and power to intensify its measures to curb the pandemic.

“Imbes na sa araw-araw, nakikita ko sa DOH eh puro stadistika na lang ng nag-positive, nag-recover, at namatay ang ginagawa nila eh,” he said.

“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. 

Seemingly following the World Health Organization's emphasis on reporting of COVID-19 tallies, the DOH has been reporting through its Facebook account the Philippine daily tally of cases, recoveries, and deaths. —LBG, GMA News