A Catholic prelate believes the country's response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic will be more effective if addressed "with medical solutions."  

San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza said this in a statement noting how "the government spent billions of money on failed priorities, and allowed the virus to infect more; of in-effectivity of military responses; and of political minions, military men and business interests advising on COVID crisis."

On August 1, medical professionals appealed for a two week time-out to address “healthcare workforce deficiency, failure of case finding and isolation, failure of contact tracing and quarantine, transportation safety, and workplace safety public compliance.”

In response to the call, President Duterte placed Metro Manila, Bulacan, Laguna, Cavite, and Rizal under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ)  from August 4 to 18.

Alminaza said the medical health workers' appeal should be given ample consideration.

"They want to heal our land, they want us to be free from the virus, and more importantly, they want us to take 'time-out' of our fears of the COVID-19," he said.

"It is counter-revolutionary for our government, to not heed their call, and still resort to their shadowed hard-headedness at the expense of our health safety and of the plight of our front-liners," added Alminaza. "It is counter-productive again, presenting other ways to recruit doctors and nurses in a military-way, but failing to assure the guarantee of just compensation and humanitarian assistance to those who are working in hospitals since the start of the pandemic."

"As a pastor of the people of God, I am one with our medical health workers in their call and commend their continuing heroic service to the Filipino people," he ended.