National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19 chief implementer Carlito Galvez Jr. slammed critics of the national government's pandemic response as he commended the city government of Taguig for its victorious efforts against COVID-19.

"Hindi natin kaya ang COVID kung wala ang mga LGUs. Maraming iba ang tumutuligsa sa atin, that our fight is a failure. Sana tignan nila ang Taguig, this is a complete local victory that we have (We cannot defeat COVID-19 without the help of the LGUs. There were some who criticize us, saying that our fight is a failure. I hope that they look at Taguig, this is a complete local victory that we have)," Galvez said.

"Despite the challenges, almost 7,000 ang COVID-19 cases at nakita natin isa kayo sa economic hub at talagang napakahirap i-control ng movement ng different workers, at the same time may densely populated areas, pero nakita natin this is our local victory, this is our national victory (Despite the challenges with the almost 7,000 COVID-19 cases and the city is considered an economic hub where the movement of different workers is very difficult to control, and at the same time there are densely populated areas, yet we can see that this is our local victory, this is our national victory)," he added.

Galvez made the remark when he addressed local officials during an inspection of the newly opened first phase of the Lakeshore Hotel mega quarantine facility together with Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, NTF vice chairperson Eduardo Ano, NTF deputy chief implementer and testing czar Vince Dizon, and Taguig Mayor Lino Cayetano, among others.

Although Galvez did not identify who he was referring to, his statements came after he advised Vice President Leni Robredo last Wednesday to "look at the situation on the ground" before criticizing the COVID-19 response of the government.

During the inspection, Cayetano launched the Taguig COVID-19 Mega Complex which houses three of the city's primary facilities to fight the pandemic.

Located at the Taguig COVID-19 Mega Complex are the Lakeshore mega quarantine facility; the city's national testing facility; and its own molecular laboratory.

The first phase of the Lakeshore mega quarantine facility can house 70 patients. About 500 units are set to be opened by the local government in the next three months to cater to more patients.

The high-end facility has an airconditioned isolation room for asymptomatic and COVID-19 positive patients. They are provided with free food, medicines, and other necessities to help them recuperate.

Robonurses are also used in bringing the essentials to the patients to keep the medical staff from getting infected.

The national testing facility was relocated to the Lakeshore compound from the Enderun Colleges to cater to more people who want to get tested for COVID-19, Cayetano said.

A total of 49,993 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests have been conducted by the city government which represents 5.06 percent of its local population.

Through the testing facility, the city government aims to conduct 100,000 PCR tests or 10 percent of its local population before the end of 2021.