By Genalyn Kabiling Amid government efforts to quell the spread of coronavirus in the country, President Duterte has called for the swift delivery of medical supplies and equipment to hospitals. President Rodrigo Duterte
(PCOO / MANILA BULLETIN) The President ordered the government agencies to cut red tape and "not waste time” in facilitating the importation and delivery of these vital equipment needed in health facilities. "I also call on relevant agencies to ensure the speedy delivery of basic medical supplies and equipment to health facilities," Duterte said in his public address Tuesday night. "From the approval, importation and to the delivery, everything must go smoothly to make sure that we do not waste time." Duterte insisted that he won't tolerate red tape and any "dilly-dallying" in the importation and delivery of medical supplies and equipment. "Alam mo, isang bagay talaga na alam ng lahat is itong pa-dilly-dally, patamad-tamaran (You know, one thing everyone knows is to dilly-dally and be lazy). Kailangan pagpasok ng papel, process mo kaagad (When the paperwork comes in, you should process them right away). I-linya mo ‘yung (Line up the) --- you line up the tables where the papers should go one after the other para madali (so it's easy)," he said. "Cut red tapes. I do not want red tapes. I do not want so many questions." Duterte likewise cautioned the government against committing any mistake amid the efforts to combat the spread of the coronavirus. "I said, do not commit a mistake and we will all be happy and comfortable. Kung gusto ninyong magloko, huwag ngayon itong panahon na ito." (If you want to do something foolish, don't do it during this time.) He also appealed to fellow public servants to "set aside our differences and work in solidarity to overcome this pandemic." "We only have one common enemy and that is COVID-19. Our transparency, integrity, accountability, and responsiveness are needed and I expect all of you to exercise all these in safeguarding our fellow Filipinos,” he said. The President made the appeal as the number of the country’s cases of coronavirus infections continued to rise in recent days. Some hospitals have closed their doors to patients with coronavirus after reaching maximum capacity.