All hands on deck in fight vs. COVID-19 —AFP chief Gapay

It will be all hands on deck for the military in assisting in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic, newly-appointed Armed Forces chief of staff Lieutenant General Gilbert Gapay said Monday.

"Our direction will be a comprehensive one, total effort, all hands on deck, all force multipliers and those reservists which the Armed Forces mobilize will be asked to help out to really address this pressing requirements and concerns as far as COVID pandemic is concerned," Gapay said at a virtual press briefing.

"We will also seek the help of our medical affiliated reserved hospitals. There are private hospitals that are considered as affiliated reserves and they will also be mobilized to help in this total national effort in curbing the impact of COVID-19 pandemic.

On late Sunday night, President Rodrigo Duterte tasked Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana to tap the military medical reservists to help in curbing the spread of the virus.

The President had also said earlier that the military will take charge in the implementation of the government's free COVID-19 immunization program for the 20 million poorest Filipinos, once the vaccine is available.

According to Lorenzana, there are 380 medical officers who are reservists and 5,368 enlisted personnel who had medical training who can help in the fight against the pandemic.

"I have already directed the Chief of Staff to find out sino ba rito ang puwede nating i-call to active duty. Kasi kung sila ay nagseserbisyo na sa labas fighting COVID, hindi na natin sila iko-call to active duty kasi ginagawa na nila 'yung kanilang trabaho na gusto nating ipagawa sa kanila kung active sila," Lorenzana said.

Lorenzana said Duterte would still approve who, among the medical reservists, will be on active duty.

"Kailangan ng approval ni President because this will entail some funding while they are in active duty so 'yun ang gagawin natin," Lorenzana said.—AOL, GMA News