Binay wants Duque to be ‘official and only voice’ on nCoV

Senator Nancy Binay on Friday urged President Rodrigo Duterte to appoint Health Secretary Francisco Duque as the "official and only voice" of the government on matters concerning the 2019 novel coronavirus (nCoV) threat.

Binay, vice chair of the Senate health committee, said Duque should be the only one to speak on behalf of the government in matters relating to policies, advisories, guidelines, and other information about the nCoV.

She said it is necessary to ensure that the public receives factual and reliable information from credible and reputable sources.

"We need to step up and elevate the ante in risk communication. I appeal to the President to appoint only one official spokesperson and only one voice who will regularly update the public of the latest developments on nCoV, and prevent anyone from government to issue statements, President's policy positions that are not official, verified, vetted nor cleared by agencies handling the nCoV situation," she said.

The senator said Malacañang should also set up a high-level risk communication team composed of representatives from different agencies to ensure that information and data coming from government are vetted and verified.

"Ang nakalulungkot, we are also battling an epidemic of fake news and misinformation, tapos kung sinu-sino lamang na di naman bihasa sa public health o may sapat na kaalaman sa sitwasyon patungkol sa nCoV ang nagsasalita para sa DOH o sa presidente. Dapat may official statement galing sa Palasyo at di kung kani-kanino," she said.

She added regular daily briefings, travel advisories, travel bans, updates, policy position, official directives and guidelines, and updates on conditions of those being monitored should only be dispensed by official orders.

"Politics collides with public health. Yung public confusion tungkol sa status ng NCoV sa Pilipinas at mga travel advisories ay nangyayari dahil na rin sa mga statement ng ilang personalidad na nagsasalita sa TV at media pero di naman officially appointed or designated ng Palasyo na magbigay ng pahayag," said Binay.

Meanwhile, Senator Imee Marcos said the government must be ready to deal with  a the nCoV threat.

"Napakabilis ng pagdami ng mga kaso ng impeksyon hindi lang sa China kundi sa buong mundo. Ibig sabihin nito ay maaring tumagal pa ng ilang buwan ang problema.  Sana lang ay hindi madamay ang ating mga OFW sa iba’t ibang bansa," she said.

She said the country’s limited capacity and reliance on foreign expertise to promptly detect the 2019-nCoV virus called for "stronger measures than just advisories on face masks, hand-washing, and prayers." — Amita Legaspi/RSJ, GMA News