Senator Panfilo M. Lacson on Thursday said he fully agrees with former Health Secretary Esperanza Icasas-Cabral that the Philippines is 10 steps back from square one, not back to square one, in containing the deadly coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
(Joseph Vidal / Senate PRIB / FILE PHOTO)
‘’She knows from where she speaks being in the middle of all the health efforts as early as when the (COVID-19) pandemic hit our shores,’’ Lacson said as senators are worried about the surge in COVID-19 infections the past days.
Queried on who is to be blamed, the government or the public, Lacson replied: ‘’Both, although government should have a bigger share of the blame.’’
Lacson blamed the government for over-regulation in procuring the vaccines because it has the money backed by foreign loans.
He said government did not have the foresight to anticipate that there would be ‘’crowding’’ or competition among countries in negotiating for the purchase of vaccines as early as March or April last year.
‘’Sayang (what a pity),’’ he added.
Opposition Senator Francis ‘’Kiko’’ Pangilinan said Cabral is an expert in public health and her observations carry much weight.
‘’Unless government addresses the serious gaps in the slow vaccine rollout, in the deficient contact tracing and isolation and the expensive testing i am afraid the health of our citizens and the health of our economy will continue to suffer,’’ he said.