4 prexy aspirants point out what is lacking in gov't COVID-19 response

Four presidential aspirants on Saturday gave their two cents on the government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including what was "wrong" with it.

Early mass vaccination

For Senator Manny Pacquiao, mass vaccination should have been done at the early stages of the pandemic so that implementation of lockdowns was avoided, as these lockdowns resulted in Filipinos losing their jobs and livelihood.

"Pag start pa lang nitong virus na ito na lumaganap dito sa ating bansa ang sinasabi ko na po noon ay 'yong mass vaccination dahil para po hindi po tayo mag-lockdown nang mag-lockdown," Pacquiao said during The Jessica Soho Presidential Interviews.

(As I've been saying ever since, there should've been mass vaccination even during the onset of the pandemic so that there won't be many lockdowns.)

"Masasabi ko na talagang 'yon po ang pagkakamali na dapat ang pondo nilaan natin doon sa pag purchase ng procure ng vaccine," he added.

(The funds should be allocated for the purchase of vaccines.)

Aid distribution

For Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, the distribution of assistance to households affected by the lockdowns is one thing that needs adjustment on the part of the national government.

“So maraming dapat lang i-adjust, for example 'yung pagbibigay ng ayuda, dapat mas efficient. So 'yun ang talagang naging hamon sa national government,” he added.

(There are a lot of things that need adjustment, for example the distribution of aid. It should be more efficient.)

Sense of urgency

Vice President Leni Robredo, for her part, said she finds the government's sense of urgency lacking.

"'Yung pinakaproblema talaga marami namang magandang ginawa, pero 'yong pinakaproblema talaga number one walang sense of urgency. Maraming mga problema na na-prevent sana nating mangyari kung mas mabilis tayong umaksyon," she said.

(There are a lot of good things done, but the problem really is that there is no sense of urgency. We could have prevented many problems if only we took measures at a faster rate.)

Robredo cited the initial lack of supply of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for health workers and the late closure of borders.

"Alam na natin na mayroong epidemic sa ibang lugar pero hindi tayo nag-asikaso. Alam natin na kailangan na tayo mag-close ng ating borders parang sobrang tagal ng ating pag desisyon," she said.

(The epidemic reached other countries but we were not quick to respond, and it took us a while to decide on border control.)

"While may mga bagay na magagandang ginawa, nababagalan talaga," she added.

(While there are good things done, they were not fast enough.)

Proactive, science-based

Senator Panfilo Lacson, meanwhile, said the government’s COVID-19 response should be proactive, science-based, and data-driven.

“Ang dapat itama dito, dapat naging proactive ano tapos dapat laging science-based at tsaka data-driven. Lahat ng kilos natin dapat nakabase sa siyensya at tsaka nakatuon doon sa mga datos na available,” he said.

(What we need to correct in the government’s approach. We need to be proactive. We should always be science-based and data-driven. All of our actions should be based on science and should be focused on the data available.)

The problem in the pandemic response of the current administration, he said, is the bureaucracy and alleged corruption, citing the distribution of theSocial Amelioration Program as an example.

“Ang problema, inuuna pa halimbawa sa ayuda, dapat ‘yan ‘di ba i-ramp up ng gobyerno ang paggastos. Ang problema ano ang inuuna, hindi ba ‘yung bureaucracy, pagkatapos hindi nakakarating tapos may corruption pa,” he said.

(The financial assistance for example should be ramped up by the government but the problem is bureaucracy and corruption.) —Anna Felicia Bajo, Llanesca T. Panti, Hana Bordey, Richa Noriega/KBK, GMA News