Go hails extension of state of calamity
We have to improve our disease surveillance and control capabilities so that the country is prepared for any health crisis
Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go has lauded the extension of the state of calamity in the country, saying it will ensure the continuity of efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease.
“As the COVID-19 virus continues to threaten the public’s health and safety, it is imperative that we continue to remain vigilant and focused on preventing a bigger outbreak as well as addressing the urgent needs facing our people,” said Go who chairs the Senate Committee on Health and Demography.
“With the end of the six months long state of calamity, I call on all government agencies to use this time to reexamine how we can improve efforts to combat this virus, reevaluate our capabilities, review the lessons we’ve learned, and consider new legislative solutions that may strengthen our response to future public health emergencies,” he added.
President Rodrigo Duterte recently issued Proclamation 1021 extending the state of calamity from 13 September to 12 September, 2021, “unless earlier lifted or extended as circumstances may warrant.”
On 16 March, Duterte signed Proclamation 929 that placed the country under a state of calamity for a period of six months and imposed a community quarantine throughout the island of Luzon.
Other areas in the country were eventually placed under varying quarantine measures through time.
The declaration also enabled the national government and local government units to access the necessary funds for its response efforts as well as to intensify government response and measures, such as easing procurement processes, mandatory reporting, and enforcing quarantine and disease control prevention measures.
With the extension, Go called on the Department of Health (DoH) to use the opportunity to plan, implement and strengthen its efforts against COVID-19 and other health threats, particularly in the area of disease surveillance and contact tracing.
“Contact tracing and targeted testing play a big part in our fight against COVID-19. We have to improve our disease surveillance and control capabilities so that the country is prepared for any health crisis,” he said.
The senator pushed for the passage of Senate Bill (SB) 1528 which he filed that aims to amend Republic Act 11332, also known as the “Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act.”
The proposed measure will strengthen disease surveillance and control capabilities by improving contact tracing capacities and testing effectiveness.
Specifically, the bill directs the DoH to develop clear guidelines on the systematic reporting and recording of diseases and other similar important developments in health that are of public concern.
Moreover, it mandates the establishment of sub-national laboratories in every DoH-run regional hospital in the country.
The laboratories shall have the capacity to undertake testing, diagnosis, control and prevention of infectious diseases. It also gives LGU the freedom to set up their own laboratories subject to the accreditation and approval of the health department.
The bill likewise directs LGU to establish their own epidemiology and surveillance units.
Finally, SB 1528 mandates the Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines to assist the DoH in its contact tracing efforts.
To complement these efforts, Go also called for the urgent passage of SB 1451 or the “Medical Reserve Corps Act of 2020” which shall give the health secretary the authority to mobilize, with compensation, health-trained individuals during times of national emergencies to increase the existing health force.
If passed, all individuals with degrees in medicine, nursing, medical technology and other health-related fields who have yet to obtain their licenses may be deployed to support emergency response efforts.