Duque admits COVID-19 response mistakes in 2020

Department of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Wednesday admitted that missteps were made in the country's COVID-19 response in 2020.

But Duque, in a press briefing for the DOH yearend report, quickly  added that the lessons from the mistakes were used to improve government response to the pandemic.

“Tama ho. May mga, 'ika nga, misstep at pagkakamali pero 'yang mga pagkakamaling iyan ay nagsisilbing mga leksyon para mas maging matagumpay ang tugon sa COVID-19,” he said.

“Wala naman pong hindi nagkakamali. Unang-una ang pinag-uusapan natin dito ay bagong virus...Wala pong magaling sa COVID-19," he added.

Duque made the statement  when asked for his assessment of the response to the COVID-19 emergency, as well as the “lapses” that need to be improved in 2021.

Asked to rate from 1 to 10 (10 being the highest) DOH's response to the pandemic, Duque gave a “9 to 10” score.

“I would give them 9 to 10 in terms of great effort, sincerity to contribute to national government pandemic response,” he said.

Earlier, several senators called for the resignation of Duque over his supposed failure of leadership in handling the health crisis. —LBG, GMA News