Pimentel: COVID-19 no longer cause of any 'calamity' in Philippines

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III on Saturday backed the position of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who was hesitant to extend the state of the calamity in the country due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

"I agree with the President. COVID-19 specifically is no longer the cause of any 'calamity' here in the Philippines," Pimentel said in a message to reporters.

Marcos on Thursday said he was not keen on further extending the state of calamity, which was due to expire on Saturday, despite a request from the Department of Health (DOH).

"I'm still very, very hesitant to continue the state of calamity, to extend it, because again, we are not in a state of calamity anymore, technically speaking," Marcos said.

"And that is the wrong mindset to be approaching the New Year with. So we’re still trying to find ways to continue to provide the benefits to our health workers which is the main issue without the state of calamity," he added.

However, the DOH on Friday said the country's COVID-19 vaccination program would be affected if the state of calamity was not extended.  

"[W]e cannot procure additional doses, including the bivalent vaccines. Also, it is expected that the number of vaccinators will decrease as other cadres such as pharmacists may no longer be tapped and willingness to vaccinate may decrease as immunity from liability is not guaranteed," it said.

The DOH expressed openness to alternatives to prevent the disruption of the vaccination program, like the possible grant of a special authority to purchase.  —Sherylin Untalan/VBL, GMA Integrated News