Article by:
Joyce Ann L. Rocamora
MANILA – The Philippine government has done a good job in battling the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) despite its limited capacities, Malacañang said on Tuesday following the remarks of Vice President Leni Robredo of alleged lapses in the country's pandemic response.
"Siguro ang the best na sagot diyan would be from a third party. Tingnan natin iyong sagot ng WHO [World Health Organization], iyong kanilang pinaka-representative dito sa ating bansa, si Dr. Rabindra Abeyasinghe sinabi niya that the Philippines has done a good job in terms of our response against Covid-19 (The best answer would be from a third party. WHO Representative Dr. Rabindra Abeyasinghe had said that the Philippines has done a good job in terms of our response against Covid-19)," Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, acting presidential spokesperson, said in a press briefing.
He also noted that the Philippines' fatality rate is among the lowest across the world, "comparatively lower than many and most countries" despite its limited capacities and despite being a middle-income country.
"While other countries have completely shut their borders, tayo ay nagpapasok ng ating mga Filipino overseas, we welcomed them home (we allowed the entry of Filipinos from overseas, we welcomed them home)," he added.
"Iyong ating vaccination drive po natin is 57,514,283 individuals fully vaccinated. At marami pa po tayong mga tagumpay sa laban against Covid-19 (Our vaccination drive has fully vaccinated 57,514,283. And we have many other successes in this fight against Covid-19)," he stressed.
Nograles said the public must focus on working together to beat the virus as the Covid-19 battle does not solely depend on the government.
"Hindi po ito solo-solo, lahat po dapat tayo magtulungan, dahil tayong lahat, mga kababayan, ang kalaban natin dito ay ang Covid-19. At ito iyong panahon kung saan lahat dapat tayo ay doon ang focus natin against Covid-19 (This cannot be fought alone, we must work together, our enemy here is Covid-19. It's a time where our focus should be against Covid-19)," he said.
The country has so far recorded 3,459,646 confirmed Covid-19 cases since the outbreak began in 2020. Of this number, more than 3.1 million have recovered, 53,598 died, while 247,451 are undergoing treatment.
Robredo on Monday said she is "trying to fill in the gaps", claiming there were many shortcomings in the government's pandemic response that have allegedly hampered the country's recovery. (PNA)
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