Senate President Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri announced Wednesday, Aug. 10 that senators would seek the advice of Department of Health (DOH) Officer-in-Charge Mara Rosario Vergeire on whether or not they want to amend or extend health protocols to contain the Covid-19 pandemic.
Zubiri said they would look into the details of the proposed amendments when DOH officials appear before a Senate committee on Monday, Aug. 15.
These protocols are in the vaccination law, and Bayanihan 1 and 2 laws that have time limits ‘’during the duration of the emergency, emergency powers given to the President,’’ he said.
`’’First of all if it is time bound we have to extend the validity, for duration of lockdowns and height of pandemic, if time bound i-extend natin (we will extend the) validity ng batas (of the law)..Para may kapangyarihan ang DOH na ituloy ang kanilang mga programa (So that the DOH will have the power to continue with the program). Titignan natin (We will see). We are very reactive proactive Senate we want to make sure na ang mga batas natin ay mapakinabangan ng ating mga kababayan (that our laws would benefit our countrymen),’’ he explained.
Zubiri said that the DOH has sounded the alarm following an upswing in Covid-19 infections reaching 3,000 to 4,000 cases a day.
He said he supports the President’s call that there should her no more lockdowns.
Since lockdowns are inimical to the economy, the vaccination program should continue ‘’to avoid lockdown in the future,’’ he added.
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