Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship and Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion (file photo)
MANILA – Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship and Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion has initiated an advisory group composed of health and economy experts that will help the private sector on "possible pathways" to transition to normalcy.
In a statement Thursday, Concepcion said he will be meeting key experts in health and business sectors who were also critical in providing advice and outlook in the past two years amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.
"We’ve seen over the past two years how important it is to have experts from all fields guiding us through the pandemic. Experts have credibility with our citizens, and they give advice based on science and data,” he said.
He cited names of experts "who have lent their insights for Go Negosyo's pandemic response efforts". They are National Task Force Against Covid-19 Special Adviser Dr. Teddy Herbosa; Covid-19 Technical Working Group chairperson Dr. Nina Gloriani; Vaccine Expert Panel member Dr. Rontgene Solante; UP Manila Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology director Dr. Edsel Salvaña; Philippine College of Physicians president Dr. Maricar Limpin; health reform advocate Dr. Tony Leachon; OCTA Research fellows Dr. Michael Tee, Prof. Ranjit Rye, Dr. Guido David, and Fr. Nic Austriaco; economist Romy Bernardo; and Go Negosyo lead advisor Josephine Romero.
These experts will meet on Friday and discussions will focus on the alert level system, the wearing of face masks, and Covid-19 vaccines.
"People are confused as to what advice to follow. Is it safe to wear masks outdoors? What conditions warrant the raising of alert levels? How come Covid vaccines are not available at the pharmacies? These are very simple questions but there seems to be a need to present a clearer picture of what we can and cannot safely do now,” the adviser to President Rodrigo Duterte said.
Concepcion said the country should maintain its gains in health and economic recovery over the past two years.
“It has been more than two years since our lives and livelihoods have been disrupted by this pandemic. I think it is now time to set a clear path for how the country must transition into a state of normalcy, and encourage people to take charge of their own health,” he said. (PNA)
