‘Nothing new?’ Let people judge Vice President Leni Robredo’s COVID-19 proposals after presidential spokesman Harry Roque said her suggestions on coronavirus response are already being carried out by the national government.

The Vice President's spokesman Barry Gutierrez refused to directly comment on Roque’s remark, but he made public the eight-page letter of Robredo detailing her recommendations on how the administration can improve its efforts in the fight against COVID-19.

Robredo’s office sent a copy of the letter to Roque last July 1.

“Let the public judge the substance and timeliness of these suggestions, which were crafted with the assistance of, and upon consultation with multiple policy experts, members of the academe, and medical professionals,” Gutierrez said.

The vice president gave her recommendations on public health data, status of programs, budget utilization, transportation concerns, education, restarting the economy, and composition of the inter-agency task force on COVID-19.

Robredo called on the IATF to include health experts, data scientists, economists, and representatives from the league of provinces, municipalities, cities, and barangays in the body.

“This will ensure that a truly whole-of-nation approach is used in creating policies that are not only acceptable, but ultimately empowering to the entire spectrum of society,” she said.

On budget utilization, Robredo underscored the need for the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) to release the detailed budget for COVID-19 response so the public will “understand the actual cash position and expenses of the government.”

She also recommended the immediate passage of the Accelerated Recovery and Investments Stimulus for the Economy of the Philippines or ARISE Bill for the country’s economic recovery.

Robredo said the government must create a single data system with regard to its COVID-19 response, particularly on how it is spending loans and donations, to ensure transparency.

Robredo said President Duterte and their fellow officials should continue the weekly reports to keep the public informed on what the government is doing.

She said the health crisis can be solved if all sectors work together towards a shared goal of defeating COVID-19 while promoting the health and welfare of the people.

“In this light, we look forward to wider avenues of cooperation, more positive, and transparent ways of engaging the public, and even more urgent action on our observations,” she said.