National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. commended the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) programs of Makati City on his visit in the city on Tuesday (Aug. 18).
Mayor Abigail Binay presented Makati’s COVID-19 programs and protocols to Esperon, the Cabinet member designated to coordinate pandemic response efforts between the national government and local governments.
According to Esperon, the national government can learn from Makati's best practices in combating the dreaded virus.
“The IATF can learn from Makati’s best practices, and these can be passed on to other cities. In turn, we may also make some more recommendations to improve what is already there. This is my role. I am here to bridge the national and local governments. Rest assured, we only want what is good for Makati,” he said in a press briefing at the City Hall.
For her part, Binay said the city is grateful that Esperon was assigned to be the city's "Big Brother" in fighting the pandemic.
“We are looking forward to working with the national government for our policies in containing the virus in the city,” the mayor said as she underscored the city’s plans to use the Stay Safe Application to expand the city’s contact tracing efforts.
Meanwhile, she thanked Esperon for handing over donations of Linhuan Qinjuen Jiaonang, a drug that has been proven to speed up recovery and reduce the symptoms of COVID-positive patients.
The local government received 10 boxes of the medicine, which can benefit 1,400 patients, the city government said.
“We are grateful for these donations,” Binay said, adding that the medicine will be distributed under strict medical protocols.
The mayor informed Esperon of the city’s free pneumonia and influenza vaccine program for residents, employees, and frontliners to boost their immune system and improve their overall health during the pandemic.
READ MORE: Makati City to give donated Chinese traditional medicine to COVID-19 patients