Duterte lauded for agreeing to declare State of Public Health Emergency
Published Mar 7, 2020 12:00 am
By Charissa Luci-Atienza
Leaders of the House of Representatives described as “timely and prudent” President Duterte's decision to agree with the Department of Health's (DOH’s) recommendation to declare a State of Public Health Emergency following the confirmation of the first local transmission of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the country.
House of the Representatives (ALVIN KASIBAN / MANILA BULLETIN / FILE PHOTO)
Bataan 1st District Rep. Geraldine Roman and Cagayan de Oro 2nd District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez threw all-out support to the President's response, which seeks to safeguard the health of the Filipino public.
“Given the recent developments – i.e., (that is) – two confirmed local cases, it is a timely and prudent decision,” Roman, chairperson of the House Committee on Veteran Affairs, told Manila Bulletin in a text message.
Rodriguez, chairman of the House Committee on Constitutional Amendments, agreed with Roman, as he noted the DOH’s efforts to help contain the spread of the disease.
“This is just timely. There have been actions already by the DOH,” he said.
For his part, Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, chairman of the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs, said, “It's very timely...Though there is only one case of local transmission in the Philippines, the threat of it spreading uncontrollably is real. That is why such declaration is timely in order that all agencies involved as well as the public must be informed, updated and educated on ways to stop the spread and what we should do to help the government.”
The DOH has raised the COVID-19 Alert System to Code Red, Sub-level 1 after the wife of the 5th COVID-19 patient tested positive for the virus.
In a statement, Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said President Duterte “has agreed” to the recommendation of the DOH to declare a State of Public Health Emergency “after considering all critical factors with the aim of safeguarding the health of the Filipino public.”
House of the Representatives (ALVIN KASIBAN / MANILA BULLETIN / FILE PHOTO)
Bataan 1st District Rep. Geraldine Roman and Cagayan de Oro 2nd District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez threw all-out support to the President's response, which seeks to safeguard the health of the Filipino public.
“Given the recent developments – i.e., (that is) – two confirmed local cases, it is a timely and prudent decision,” Roman, chairperson of the House Committee on Veteran Affairs, told Manila Bulletin in a text message.
Rodriguez, chairman of the House Committee on Constitutional Amendments, agreed with Roman, as he noted the DOH’s efforts to help contain the spread of the disease.
“This is just timely. There have been actions already by the DOH,” he said.
For his part, Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, chairman of the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs, said, “It's very timely...Though there is only one case of local transmission in the Philippines, the threat of it spreading uncontrollably is real. That is why such declaration is timely in order that all agencies involved as well as the public must be informed, updated and educated on ways to stop the spread and what we should do to help the government.”
The DOH has raised the COVID-19 Alert System to Code Red, Sub-level 1 after the wife of the 5th COVID-19 patient tested positive for the virus.
In a statement, Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said President Duterte “has agreed” to the recommendation of the DOH to declare a State of Public Health Emergency “after considering all critical factors with the aim of safeguarding the health of the Filipino public.”