The government has not been an "absolute failure" in dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, Malacañang asserted on Wednesday despite the rising cases of infections.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque has defended the government's efforts to contain the disease outbreak, saying the government, with the cooperation of the public, has been successful in terms of keeping the country's fatality rate low.
The government intends to further accelerate efforts to test, trace, isolate, and treat patients with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) to stem the transmission, according to Roque.
"We acknowledge that the numbers are rising. We do say that what really matters is the mortality rate, and the mortality rate is below world average. We’re more or less around two percent. So we can’t say we’ve been an absolute failure," Roque told CNN Philippines on Wednesday.
"We’ve been rather successful because we’ve limited mortality rate, and in the end that’s what matters – how many people perished because of the pandemic," he said.
More than 83,000 people have been infected with COVID-19 in the country based on the latest data from the health department. The death toll has reached 1,947 as of July 28.
Roque had earlier said the country's case fatality rate has decreased to 2.37 percent from 2.9 percent last July 14. The country’s mortality rate is lower than the global average of 4 percent, he added.
He cited that the "strides" in the treatment efforts for coronavirus patients have also contributed to the country's mortality rate below the world threshold.
"We can only look at our former colonial master and look at the mess that they’re in, the United States and even England. We’re a far shot from the crisis that they have in the US, in England, and the rest of Europe," he said.
Roque said the country could have recorded 3.5 million infections or more if the government had not taken the necessary steps to limit the spread of the coronavirus.
The government had earlier imposed strict lockdown measures, including home quarantine except for essential activities, suspension of public transportation, ban on large gatherings, and travel restrictions, to curb the disease transmission in the country. These restrictions have so far been gradually relaxed to jumpstart the economy and restore the livelihood of the people.
"I keep on telling people, do not forget that the same UP-OCTA research group that is so accurately forecasting the numbers of COVID-19, forecasted it should have been 3.5 million or even more by now if we did not resort to the steps that we did," Roque said.
"So we are achieving great strides. And as soon as we fully implement pooled testing, you will see a major, major decrease in the case doubling rate, as well as in the R0 or the case reproduction rate," he said.
Roque also credited the public for contributing to the gains in the fight against the coronavirus by cooperating with the health measures such as the wearing of face masks. "So, people, let’s give ourselves credit because it’s not just the government that succeeded, it’s the Filipino people that succeeded to be where we are," he said.
The President is expected to announce on Thursday the country's new classification status for next month. Roque declined to preempt the President's announcement but hinted about "major changes" in the country's testing, tracing, and treatment programs.
"Sometimes we have to rely less on classifications. We need to be more innovative in our response,” the Palace official said.
"We do know that efforts will have to be done to reduce the numbers, and if possible, to do away completely with community transmission which can be done under these contemplated massive targeted testing and invigorated responses," he said.