Robredo slams DOH nixing of mass testing: ‘If it’s important, you should find a way’

Vice President Leni Robredo on Sunday stressed that the government should allocate a budget for free mass testing for COVID-19 in light of the increasing infections in the country.

Robredo made the remark during her weekly radio program after the Department of Health (DOH) said that the government will not adopt mass testing as a strategy against COVID-19, claiming that it is not rational and science-based.

Robredo said she disagrees with the DOH's stance.

“Ako hindi ako sang-ayon doon. Ngayon kasi, naghahanap tayo ng justification dahil hindi natin kayang mag-test nang marami. Pero para nga sa akin, two years na. Dapat napaghandaan na natin ito,” she said.

(I don't agree with that. Now, we are looking for justification because we cannot afford to test much. But for me, it's been two years. We should have already prepared for it.)

Robredo said that there are a lot of people with COVID-19 who are asymptomatic or who do not even know that they have been infected with the virus. Thus, testing is important to determine if one should undergo quarantine or isolation.

Many people are also hesitant to get themselves tested as COVID-19 tests are costly especially if conducted in private hospitals, she added.

The Philippines on Sunday logged a record 28,707 new COVID-19 infections, raising the country's total tally to 2,965,447 with active cases now over 128,000.

Despite the majority of these cases showing mild symptoms, Robredo said that the government should not become complacent.

“Hindi natin pwede isugal na ay, ano lang ‘to, mild naman ‘yung symptoms. Sabihin pa natin na karamihan mild, pero every patient na nagse-severe eh matakot tayo,” she said.

(We could not gamble that these are just mild symptoms. And even so, we should still be afraid that there are still patients that get severe symptoms.)

“Life-threatening pa rin siya. Dapat ginagastusan natin ng pera ‘yung kung ano ‘yung mahalaga,” she added.

(It is still-life threatening and we should thus allot money for what is important.)

The World Health Organization (WHO) earlier warned that while initial data shows that the Omicron variant causes milder symptoms, it may still lead to death among immunocompromised individuals and the elderly.

Robredo stressed that if the government wants to do so, they could look for ways allowed under the law to offer free mass testing for the people.

“Huwag nang tanungin kung mahirap, tanungin na lang kung mahalaga. Kasi kung nagtanong ka kung mahalaga, ang sagot mo oo, hanapan mo ng paraan,” she said.

(Don't ask if it's hard, just ask if it's important. Because if you ask if it is important and the answer is yes, then you should find a way.)

Several progressive lawmakers have also called for free mass testing in the country amid the recent spike in COVID-19 cases. — BM, GMA News