More research, better pay for health workers: VP bets pitch plans to address COVID-19
MANILA, Philippines — Two years after the coronavirus pandemic hit the Philippines, most curbs have been scrapped as the government ushers in a “new normal” and starts the country's recovery.
During the debates organized by the Commission on Elections Sunday, vice presidential bets in the 2022 polls were asked: “May kakulangan ba sa kasalukuyang pagtugon sa COVID-19? Paano mo ito susuportahan?”
(Are there shortcomings in the COVID-19 response of the current government? How will you support it?)
Here are the aspirants’ answers:
Carlos Serapio
The vice presidential bet of the Katipunan ng Kamalayang Kayumanggi said the current administration “has done its best” to address the health crisis. Serapio added he will “put a lot of premium” on research and development.
Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III
For Sotto, the country should start manufacturing its own vaccines, personal protective equipment and other medical supplies. He highlighted the need to properly compensate not only frontliners but also barangay health workers.
Sotto also said that district hospitals can be converted into infectious disease hospitals like San Lazaro Hospital in Manila.
Walden Bello
The vice presidential candidate of the Partido Lakas ng Masa answered the question by calling the performance of the Duterte administration “quite dismal.”
“We need to have an approach that is participatory, not militaristic. We need to give priority to the opinions of the medical community instead of seeing them as enemies, and we need to be able to give proper budget to both frontline workers and ayuda to communities,” Bello said.
“I would say in my administration with Ka Leody [De Guzman], we’ll do far better than this crazy administration.”
Bello also said the government should work with other Global South countries to break the monopoly on trade-related property rights, particularly on vaccines.
Rizalito David
The vice presidential bet of the Democratic Party of the Philippines said the government ignored proposals that could have softened the pandemic’s impacts. He agreed with Bello that different stakeholders must be heard.
He also suggested that local governments should be able to decide on what to do with their constituents.
Manny Lopez
For the vice presidential aspirant running under the Labor Party Philippines, the government’s pandemic response “started a bit slow but has improved across time.”
“My general prescription is for a science-based, pragmatic, cost-effective approach to pandemic management. This must be devoid of commercialism, profit-maximization,” Lopez said.
He added the government should develop the public healthcare system, provide more scholarships for future doctors and build more hospitals.
Dr. Willie Ong
Ong, a doctor, warned of a possible surge as other Asian nations grapple with new COVID-19 waves.
He proposed building infectious diseases hospitals, establishing the country’s own Center for Disease Control and Prevention, making COVID-19 tests free and giving more support to medical workers.
He added that alternative medicines such as herbal medicines should be considered.
Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan
“Kung magkakaroon ng surge at nandyan pa rin ang mga kurakot at incompetent na nagpapatakbo ng COVID-19 response, palagay ko magkakaproblema tayo. Kailangan tanggalin sila ngayon pa lang at hanapan ng mga kapalit na mahusay at talagang tapat sa panunungkulan,” Pangilinan said.
(If a surge will happen and corrupt and incompetent people who run the country’s COVID-19 response are still there, I think we will have a problem. We need to remove them as soon as possible and look for replacements who are good and honest.)
He also said that tracing, testing and treatment, and support for frontliners must be strengthened. — Gaea Katreena Cabico
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