The government has applied “a multisectoral approach” in addressing  the coronavirus emergency since the pandemic is "not purely a medical fight," Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said Wednesday.

Nograles said the government has resorted to the whole-of- nation strategy to fight the pandemic, dispelling allegations that it was dealing the matter through military strategy.

A panel of medical experts, mathematicians, and other specialists from various fields has actually been tapped to provide advice and recommendations to enhance the government's pandemic response, according to Nograles.

"Hindi naman accurate to say na puro military or pulis ating approach dito sa pandemyang ito. We are backed up by a lot of technical experts in various fields at kasama sila doon sa ating technical advisory panel  (It is not accurate to say our approach to the pandemic is purely military or police. We are backed up by a lot of technical experts in various fields and they are part of the technical advisory panel)," he said during the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum Wednesday. 

"Itong laban sa COVID is not just purely medical fight sa medical front. Iba't-ibang fronts ito. Multisectoral ang approach dito (The fight against COVID is not just purely a medical fight, a fight in the medical front. This involves different fronts. Multisectoral approach is applied here)," he said.

Nograles, co-chair of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Infectious Diseases (IATF), noted that the government must also take into considerations economic and social aspects of the pandemic.

"It's not simply a health pandemic. Kasama economy, kasama ang society, kasama ang social needs (It involves the economy, society and social needs)," he said.

The IATF, the government's policy making body in pandemic response, is currently led by Health Secretary Francisco Duque III. The task force, that includes several Cabinet members,  makes the recommendations on the country's quarantine classification, lockdown rules, and regulations, among others.

A National Task Force for COVID-19, on the other hand, has been created implement the government's action plan to contain the spread of the pandemic. 

The task is spearhead mostly by retired military generals. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana heads the task force  while Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año is vice chairman.

Presidential peace adviser Carlito Galvez Jr. is designated as chief implementer of the national COVID plan.

The President regularly meets with the IATF members at the Palace on the government's pandemic response, from tackling healthcare resources and facilities to economic and social protection measures. 

Duterte has relied on the military and police to help enforce the quarantine measures and distribute cash grants to poor families. Recently, he announced plans to tap the military and police to help in the coronavirus immunization drive once the vaccines become available.

The President has defended his penchant to appoint former military and police officers to key posts in government, saying they get the job fast and without complaints.