AS compared to other countries, the Philippine government is doing so much better in responding to the national health emergency, says a government health consultant notwithstanding record-high infections in the past week.
“We’ve done a fairly good job. We are number 30 in the number of cases of countries. At least we are not in the top 10,” says Dr. Ted Herbosa, special adviser to the National Task Force Against COVID-19.
Herbosa explained the fact that the Philippines ranks number two among Southeast Asian countries with the most COVID-19 cases, death toll has remained low. “We are the only country also in Southeast Asia that has so much overseas Filipino workers that has actually introduced the variants and caused our second wave.”
The Philippines has so far recorded over 684,000 coronavirus cases. Of this figure, 13,000 have died, while active cases was pegged at over 91,000.
President Rodrigo Duterte has placed the capital region and its adjoining provinces under general community quarantine, which makes the Philippines earn the distinction of being the country with the longest and strictest lockdown.
He likewise warded off calls for the abolition of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) over its alleged failed response to the pandemic.
“It’s a bad idea because we are in our national action plan phase 3. If you’re implementing a plan, it’s not gonna work. Brazil changed their health minister 4 times last year. Where are they now? They’re actually the second most affected country globally in this pandemic,” averred Herbosa, adding that the IATF’s role is essential in ensuring policies and measures to address the crisis are properly enforced.
“Changing the driver or a pilot of a plane while it’s midair might not be a good idea because you don’t know how the replacement will do better. So, I’ll continue with the current situation and…re-assess after. That’s how we do it in emergency situations,” he said.
Herbosa also came to President Rodrigo Duterte and Health Secretary Francisco Duque’s defense amid criticisms of failure in the handling of the COVID-19 situation.