New admin in 2022 should ask, 'What are we doing wrong in our COVID-19 response?' –Robredo

Vice President Leni Robredo said the new administration in 2022 should ask what the current government was doing wrong as the Philippines continued to struggle against the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Kailangan natin intindihin na pagpasok ng bagong administrasyon, nasa pandemic pa din tayo. Dahil nasa pandemic tayo, ang kailangan talagang tutukan iyong ating healthcare system. Number one, kailangan na talagang maampat iyong virus. So ang tanong lagi, 'What are we doing wrong?'" Robredo said in a webinar hosted by the Presentation of the Child Jesus Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting.

(We need to understand that as the new administration starts, we are still in a pandemic. Because we are in a pandemic, we need to focus on our healthcare system. Number one, we need to get rid of the virus. So the question is always, "What are we doing wrong?")

"Kasi one and a half years na tayo dito, parang roller coaster iyong ating numbers—bubuti, sasama, bubuti, sasama," Robredo added.

(We are one and a half years into the pandemic, our numbers seemed to be like a roller coaster - sometimes it will be better, sometimes it will be worse.)

Robredo thus urged the new administration to look to countries that were successful against COVID-19 as models.

"So ang tanong natin, 'Anong ginawa nila na hindi natin ginagawa?' So iyong sa akin, iyon ang dapat tutukan—stop the transmission kasi hindi tayo makaka-move on hanggang marami pang nagkakasakit," she said.

(So our question is, "What did they do that we aren't doing?" So for me, that's what we should focus on — stop the transmission because we will not move on until many more get sick.)

Robredo however said Filipinos should learn how to live with the virus, and shift to a challenging "new normal."

Campaign at a ‘crusade’ level

Robredo said a genuine change in the country would only be possible if it was approached as a "crusade," given the massive misinformation being spread on social media.

While Robredo credited the Office of the Vice President for "filling the gaps" despite its lack of resources, she lamented that social media was saturated with propaganda.

"Pero kapag tinanong mo iyong tao—kapag tinanong mo ng impression about me—sasabihin niya, 'Wala naman siyang ginagawa,'" she said.

(But when you ask the people — when you ask their impression about me — they will say, "She's not doing anything.")

"[N]gayong 2022, if we really want change, kailangan na ito maging crusade level, eh. Kailangan na siya maging crusade level kasi kailangan ng tulong ng taumbayan para lang maiparating iyong correct information," Robredo added.

(In 2022, if we want change, it has to be at a crusade level. It needs to be at crusade levels because the public needs to help in imparting the correct information.)

Robredo said she still has two weeks to decide on her candidacy in Eleksyon 2022 as her supporters wait for her decision on whether or not she would seek the presidency. — DVM, GMA News