By Chito Chavez Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año on Monday said the country is right on track in curbing the dreaded coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. DILG Secretary Eduardo Año
(NTF Against COVID-19 / MANILA BULLETIN) Año, in an interview over ANC, said the national government expected the rise of COVID-19 positive cases with its improved and increased COVID-19 testing capability. "Yes, as we increased our testing capacities, actually we expected that more positive will turn out. But if we look at the positivity rate, we are about five to six percent. Our target is to go to around three percent and probably one percent," Año said. Año noted that it is unfair to compare the country with Singapore “because Singapore is a very small country, a small population." Año said that Singapore has 41 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 population compared to the country’s seven point something from the same number of people. “So we are still doing okay even way below global average,’’ he added. He also pointed out that most areas in the country are already placed under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ). "If you look at the figures, most of these new positive cases are coming from particular regions, Region VII, National Capital Region, and now Region VIII. For the rest of the country, we are doing good. In fact, most are in MGCQ, some are in MGCQ with low risk, meaning to say they are near to new normal," Año said. If the government did not enforce quarantine protocols, Año said that the Philippines will most likely record more or less three million infections with 100,000 deaths. Año said that with this, the Philippines is doing better compared to other nations. "We are doing good compared to other countries like the United States, Brazil," Año said.