Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan on Monday, August 2, urged the national government to prioritize the economy, access to food, and support for health frontliners as it deals with the more infectious COVID-19 Delta variant.

“Right now, sira ang delivery systems ng (of) food at health services (are not at par). Walang kita pangtustos sa pagkain o gamot (There is no money for food and medicine). Given these, achieving good health for Filipinos seems pretty straightforward: Secure our economy. Secure our food producers. Secure our health workers,” Pangilinan said.

During an online symposium as part of the 35th anniversary of the St. Luke’s Medical Center, Pangilinan said: "Our poorest of the poor have become even poorer to the point that they have to choose between eating or taking medicines -- both of which they need to survive and thrive.”

He said securing food producers would lower the cost of food.

He repeated that said the Sagip Saka Act of 2019, which seeks to ease the flow of food from producer to consumer, would effectively lower food prices.

In reiterating his appeal for support to small businesses, he also said: “Nasa emergency situation tayo (We are in an emergency situation). Economic opportunities mean access to sources of income. Social services mean access to government assistance and other amelioration programs that would make economic opportunities more accessible in times of need."

Further, Pangilinan said the health gaps exposed by the pandemic must be filled by modernizing facilities, increasing hospital beds, proper support and compensation for frontline health workers, contact tracing, and testing.

"Much like securing food means securing farmers, securing health also means securing front-liners," he said.

“We hope to repay our front-liners by giving them the compensation and recognition that they deserve. We hope to give them the incentive to stay,” Pangilinan appealed.

“As I’ve seen in the past two years, the state of the nation’s health depends, to a large extent, on the quality of public leadership in battling the most severe health and economic crisis facing the nation today,” the oppositon senator pointed out.

As of August 1, the Philippines has a total of 1,597,689 COVID-19 cases, with daily cases reported to be over 8,000 for the third straight day.

President Duterte has decided to impose anew the enhanced community quaratine in the National Capital Region (NCR) from August 6 to 20 because of the rise in COVID-19 Delta infections.

NCR has been placed under general community quarantine (GCQ) with heightened and additional restrictions from July 30 to August 5.