If another Covid-19 surge takes place in the Philippines again, aspiring vice president Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan said "corrupt and incompetent" officials dealing with the pandemic must be replaced.
During the first round of the Vice Presidential Debates organized by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Sunday, March 20, Pangilinan said the "corrupt and incompetent" pandemic officials must be replaced with good and honest officials.
This is because he believes that if they remain in office, "it will be a problem for us."
"Kailangan tanggalin na natin sila ngayon pa lang at hanapan ng mga kapalit na mahusay at tapat sa panunungkulan (We need to remove them as early as now and replace them with good and those with integrity)," the vice presidential aspirant said.
He also underscored that a portion of the unspent P1.4-trillion budget in 2021 must be realigned to strengthen the country's health care center and make it more resilient for another surge.
"Meron tayong P1.4 trillion na nakatengga nung 2021 na hindi nagamit na pondo, hanapan na ng paraan para magamit yung portion of that P1.4 trillion para masuportahan yung pagpalakas ng ating health care system at maihanda natin ang sarili natin sa maaaring maging surge (We have P1.4-trillion unspent fund in 2021, we should find where to put a portion of that to support the strengthening of the health care system and prepare ourselves for the possible surge)," Pangilinan said.
The lawmaker further said that when a surge of infection strikes again, the country must rely on improved tracing, testing, and isolation, stressing that testing must already be free for all.
He also said that the delay on the release of compensation for the medical frontliners must not happen again.