Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana (left) and chief implementer of the country's National Policy Against Covid-19, Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. (right)
MANILA – Top government officials who are leading the response to the pandemic on Tuesday thanked both houses of Congress for recognizing the urgent measures and programs needed to mitigate the impact of the health crisis, with the ratification of the proposed Bayanihan to Recover As One Act.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, who chairs the National Task Force (NTF) against Covid-19, said the "swift action" of Congress is a testament to the whole-of-nation approach needed to combat the dreaded coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
"The Bayanihan to Recover As One Act will greatly benefit the nation, especially sectors severely affected by this health crisis,” Lorenzana added.
Meanwhile, Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., chief implementer of the country's National Policy Against Covid-19, said the measure is vital in boosting government plans and strategies to halt the spread of the disease.
The second phase of the National Action Plan (NAP) on Covid-19 is anchored on the Prevent-Detect-Isolate-Treat-Reintegrate strategy of the government, Galvez said.
He said under Bayanihan2, Congress has allotted PHP3 billion for the procurement of face masks, personal protective equipment, shoe covers, and face shields.
Meanwhile, PHP5 billion has been earmarked for the hiring of at least 50,000 contract tracers, which will be carried out by the Department of the Interior and Local Government,
Galvez said, adding that some PHP4.5 billion would be used to finance the construction and maintenance of isolation facilities, including the billing of hotels, food, and transportation, among others, for the pandemic response.
“The support of Congress will strengthen the national government’s pandemic response efforts in balancing the health of the people and the recovery of our economy,” he said.
On the other hand, deputy chief implementer, Secretary Vince Dizon, said the measure has allocated a "standby fund" amounting to PHP10 billion, which would be used for Covid-19 testing efforts, as well as to procure various medications and vaccines.
“Congress’ approval of the Bayanihan to Recover As One Act will help us further ramp up our testing capacity nationwide," Dizon, also the country's testing czar, said.
"The first Bayanihan law allowed us to strengthen our testing efforts, with the Philippines now at the top in conducting the most number of Covid-19 tests compared to our Southeast Asian neighbors."
As of August 22, the government reported that more than two million individuals have already been tested for Covid-19.
The government is targeting to test a total of 10 million Filipinos by June next year. (PNA)
