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Gov't eyes to sustain recovery as pandemic response continues

By Lade Jean Kabagani

April 11, 2022, 6:35 pm

<p><em>(Photo courtesy of NTF)</em></p>

(Photo courtesy of NTF)

MANILA – The government aims to accelerate and sustain socio-economic recovery while management of Covid-19 risks continues.

On Monday, the National Task Force (NTF) Against Covid-19 Task Group on Strategic Communications held a virtual town hall meeting, dubbed “Road to Recovery”, to discuss the country’s fifth phase of the National Action Plan (NAP 5).

“It’s really about making sure that they have access to risk-informed health protocols, they have access to accurate and affordable testing, the treatment and the vaccine, as well as timely and accurate information,” said National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Undersecretary Rosemarie Edillon.

Edillon said there’s a need to build the capacities of institutions to monitor and provide health information, especially the local health units.

Under NAP 5, the government will ensure the continuity of businesses and services by adopting risk-informed guidelines, harmonizing and streamlining travel protocols, and institutionalizing safe work and public spaces.

To address the scarring due to Covid-19, the government would conduct a needs assessment, identify a catch-up plan, and mobilize resources.

Edillon said digital transformation is one of the keys to make the Philippines more resilient against the pandemic, which includes increasing digital infrastructure, improving digital literacy, and digitalization of the government processes.

“Let’s build resilience against future health threats,” she said.

Moreover, the government is eyeing to craft a “pandemic response playbook.”

It is also pushing for a pandemic flexibility bill and health security strategy as midterm to long-term solutions against the global health crisis.

“It will be by way of legislation so that when it happens next time -- hopefully not, knock on wood -- that we can respond in a timely manner," Edillon said.

NTF chief Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. earlier said the government has started crafting the National Deployment and Vaccination Plan for Covid-19 Vaccines (NDVP) to improve vaccination policies and strategies.

The NDVP 2 covers key components of the vaccination program such as the planning, deployment, administration, and monitoring.

“I believe that the NDVP 2 is a labor of love, as it is a product of all our experiences in implementing the national vaccination program,” Galvez said.

Galvez said the government targets to provide guidelines on the pandemic response for the next administration to ensure the gains will be sustained up until the new government is seated.

“By doing so, we can ensure that the gains we have achieved over the past year in protecting our fellow Filipinos from the deadly virus through our vaccination program can be sustained and will continue to be implemented by the next administration,” he added.

The NDVP 2 will contain regulatory preparedness; planning and coordination; costing and funding, identification of targets population; vaccine delivery strategies; supply chain management and waste management; human resource management and training; acceptance and uptake; vaccine safety and quality monitoring; management of adverse event following immunization and injecting safety; vaccination monitoring system; and vaccine effectiveness. (PNA)


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