Pacquiao bats for mass testing instead of ‘coercive’ policies to manage pandemic

Presidential aspirant and Senator Manny Pacquiao on Thursday renewed calls for free and accessible COVID-19 testing amid government implementation of policies restricting unvaccinated Filipinos’ mobility.

In a statement, Pacquiao said the government should provide free rapid antigen and RT-PCR tests for every Filipino instead of imposing "coercive restrictions” to unvaccinated individuals.

"Imbes na pagbawalan natin ang mga unvaccinated na lumabas at maghanapbuhay, mas maganda na gawin nating libre at accessible ang antigen test. At kapag positive ang isang na-test, libre din ang isasagawang confirmatory RT-PCR test. Kailangan natin palakasin ang mass testing natin sa halip na i-discriminate ang mga hindi pa bakunado," he said.

(Instead of restricting the unvaccinated to go out and work, it is better to make antigen tests free and accessible. Once an individual tested positive, there should be a free confirmatory RT-PCR test. We need to strengthen our mass testing instead of discriminating those who are not yet inoculated.)

Pacquiao also said mass testing and systematic contact tracing would allow health authorities to properly identify and isolate those who contracted the virus without curtailing the basic rights of the unvaccinated Filipinos.

He then suggested putting up antigen testing facilities in every barangay, health centers, malls, and even in workplaces.

Molecular laboratories for the RT-PCR tests could be established in quarantine sites only so those who tested positive in antigen tests can be isolated while waiting for their confirmatory tests, he added.

He said asymptomatic and patients with mild symptoms can be allowed to do self-isolation as long as they can show that they have a safe space for their quarantine.

Pacquiao also hit the absence of a uniform, reliable, and integrated contact tracing trough mobile softwares, emphasizing the importance this in managing the COVID-19 situation in the country.

The lawmaker noted that two years into the pandemic, cities have varying contact tracing apps and would not honor the Staysafe app which is currently used by some establishments.

What’s worse, he added, is there are areas that still require people to manually fill up health declaration forms.

“Bakit hindi na lang Staysafe ang gamitin? Bakit hindi ayusin ng DICT (Department of Information and Communications Technology) yung app para magkaroon tayo ng central database?  Puwede ngang ayusin pa ito para automatic na makakatanggap ka ng message kapag meron kang close contacts sa Covid positive at bigyan ka ng impormasyon kung ano ang iyong dapat gawin,” Pacquiao said.

(Why don’t we use the Staysafe application? Why don’t the officials of DICT fix the app so we could have a central database? This could be improved so we can automatically receive a message if we are a close contact of someone who tested positive for COVID-19. This automation should also give us the information about what we’re going to do.)

“Maliban sa vaccination, ang kailangan talaga natin ay mass testing at maayos na contact tracing hindi yang mga lockdown at mga walang katapusang mga restriction,” Pacquiao added.

(Apart from the vaccination, we need mass testing and efficient contact tracing so we do not resort to lockdowns and the never ending restrictions.)

While he opposed the government’s policies that restrict the unvaccinated individuals’ movements, Pacquiao clarified that he supports the national vaccination program, reiterating the need to consider those who have medical conditions and those who are held back by their religious beliefs.

“Bagamat totoong mas mataas ang peligro ng mga hindi bakunado, hindi ito batayan para tratuhin sila na parang may mga nagawang paglabag sa batas lalo’t  tama naman ang obserbasyon na pareho pa rin namang nagkakasakit at nakakahawa ang mga bakunado at hindi bakunado,” he said.

(Although it is true that the unvaccinated individuals are more susceptible to the virus, this should not a basis for us to treat them as if they violated the law. Observations show that both the vaccinated and the unvaccinated could still contract the disease and could become carriers of the virus.) — RSJ, GMA News