Senator Christopher “Bong” Go on Wednesday said there is a need to strengthen the enforcement of health and safety protocols being imposed by the government to stop the further spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Go, chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, also asked authorities and the public to balance health considerations with efforts to jumpstart the economy. 

He also urged authorities and the public to balance health considerations with efforts to jumpstart the economy. 

Last Monday, President Duterte overturned the decision of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) to allow 10- to 14-year-olds to go out of their homes.  Duterte cited the need to remain vigilant amid the emergence of new COVID-19 variants from the United Kingdom, also known as B.1.1.7 SARS-CoV-2, from South Africa and recently, from Brazil and Australia. 

“Sabado ko pa po ito nabanggit, noong nabalitaan ko noong Biyernes na mayroon ng magiging pagbubukas, 'yung desisyon ng IATF na pagbubukas po para sa mga ten years old up to fourteen years old, medyo nabahala tayo. Noong nalaman natin ito, nagkataon din na halos on the same day ay may nadiskubre po na labindalawang kaso ng new variant doon sa Mountain Province,’’ he said. (I have mentioned this last Saturday after I learned on Friday of the IATF decision to allow 10- to 14-year-olds to go out of their homes. I was alarmed when I was informed that almost on the same day that there were 12 new cases of the new variant discovered in Mountain Province.

“Nakakabahala ito dahil tatlo doon ay menor de edad. So, ibig sabihin, talagang delikado pa po at sinabi ko nga eh, hilaw pa, maaga pa para luwagan natin (ang mga patakaran),’’ he said  (This is alarming because three of the twelve infected persons are minors. It means that it is still dangerous, it is too early to ease the guidelines.)

He cited a report of the Department of Health (DOH) that three of those who tested positive for the new COVID-19 variant were minors — the youngest being only five years old. 

While there is no huge spike in cases after the holidays, Go said the emergence of a new COVID-19 variant should be a cause for concern as he urged government agencies to closely monitor developments before deciding to relax restrictions further.

“Pero naiintindihan ko naman po at nabanggit po ni Secretary (Ramon) Mon Lopez sa akin kagabi... sabi nga n’ya narinig daw n’ya 'yung desisyon ng ating mahal na Pangulo and they will follow it,’’ he said. (However, I also understand and Secretary Mon Lopez mentioned to me last night that he heard the decision of our beloved President and they will follow it.)

Go said that in the efforts to jumpstart the economy, the lives and welfare of Filipinos must be prioritized. 

“Binabalanse naman po ng gobyerno ang lahat, lalung-lalo na po itong pagbubukas dahil talagang marami pong nagsara na negosyo, kailangan na ring magbukas. Binabalanse po ng ating mga finance managers ang lahat. Pero para sa akin po, buhay ng bawat Pilipino ay napakaimportante sa akin,’’ he said. (The government is balancing everything, especially the planned easing of the guidelines because there are several businesses that have stopped their operations. Our finance managers are balancing everything. But, for me, the lives of Filipinos should be prioritized.)

Go also expressed his concern over easing the restrictions while the country has not yet started its vaccination program.

To address the economic consequences of the pandemic, Go said the government remains focused in resolving hunger and addressing the plight of those who lost their jobs.

He assured the public that once a sufficient supply of safe and effective vaccines is ready, the government will prioritize the frontliners, the poor, and vulnerable sectors.

]He urged everyone to continue to cooperate with authorities and comply with health protocols to keep their communities safe.