PRESIDENT RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE: A very limited meeting for tonight. But what is really would be the main agenda is the discussion of the continuing increase of COVID patients in our land.

Sa education, yes ma’am. Take your time, ma’am. We have…

DEPED SECRETARY LEONOR BRIONES: Yeah. During our last meeting last Monday, you asked us to present a formal proposal on the advantages and disadvantages of having limited face-to-face learning at this time pero limited only in areas where there is low-risk assessment and where there is compliance with the requirements of the Department of Education as well as compliance with the minimum health requirements of the department…

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Yes, I now remember it.

SEC. BRIONES: Only in these places, not for everybody. Only for those which are considered low risk.

And if there is face-to-face, it will not be for the entire five days of school week. It could only be one day or two days and the sessions could be limited to the most important things that a child should learn.

And it is now being done. La Salle did it. They started last June. And there is a very small school in Siquijor, it’s also started last June also with limited face-to-face and it’s working.

So the local government officials have been writing us and international schools also have been writing us and requesting if we can allow limited face-to-face for those who will be able to take the necessary precautions and so we have submitted, Mr. President, to the Secretariat both a PowerPoint presentation as well as a text describing how it’s going to be done.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Yeah.

SEC. BRIONES: Yeah. So we are complying with your instructions.

And if I may divert because a while back you are talking about medicine. We have Filipinos who finished medicine in Russia and they are practicing in the Philippines. My niece did finish her studies in medicine in Russia for seven years in the Russian language at the top of her class, and she is now provincial health officer in Catanduanes, and there are several more.

There was a period when Filipinos went to Russia but without the usual official arrangements and they finished and some of them are back so they can really vouch for the high quality of medical education.

But to go back to face-to-face, I am just submitting. You may not have time anymore at this hour to listen to the presentation.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: No, I have.

SEC. BRIONES: Okay, yes. Can I please…

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: I must listen to you not only find the time.

SEC. BRIONES: We are very pleased and happy to report that in terms of the public and private school enrollment total, in spite of the combined impact of COVID as well as the distraction on the economy, the downturn of the economy, we were able to achieve 77 percent of the total enrollment compared to last year.

Sa public, 90 percent of our students last year ang naabot natin. So in spite of these two very difficult situations nakaya natin.

Ang ating problem is with the private school enrollees kasi only 27 percent have returned. And we now have this what I described as the phenomenon of private school students migrating to the public school. Ang latest number is 347,860. And this is because, Mr. President, the private schools have been affected by the downturn in the economy. Their parents who lose their jobs cannot already fund the studies of the students.

So I also have presented a timeline when we all started. We started our work April, May 28, that’s when you expressed support for blended learning. And when you gave instructions that you will not allow face-to-face learning, we also —corresponding date — took out from our learning continuity program the face-to-face learning portion.

But right now, Mr. President, we are receiving many queries and many requests from local chief executives, from legislators, private and international schools — there are 71 international schools all over the country — and they are requesting if limited face-to-face classes can be held.

I have here a few slides which I will not repeat anymore wherein we showed that children are not as badly affected by this COVID phenomenon as the adults especially the elderly.

We are saying that of the total confirmed cases, for example, out of 67,456 confirmed cases only 2,832 most of them also mild or four percent, 4.20 percent are children.

And in terms of our records, Mr. President, we only have 16 recorded deaths of children which is .87 percent of the total deaths as of July 19, Mr. President.

So now I go to the possible terms and conditions, what would be the advantage of limited face-to-face? Well, both the learners or students and our teachers are familiar with face-to-face learning so they will not have difficulty adjusting. Administrative costs will also be lower and also the limited face-to-face classes closes inequality gaps kasi kung we rely, for example, heavily on online learning, then you will have equity problems for those who may not have access to digital equipment.

And also this is the most important, the — when we teach our children, we teach them not only about facts, about knowledge, about philosophies, about history, but we teach them how to deal with their fellow human beings and that can only be attained to a great degree by face-to-face interaction among children especially as they are young.

Now some of the disadvantage are of course the health risks that’s why we want to limit very strictly the implementation of face-to-face and also the administrative costs because maintaining the health standards and so on and also of our own buildings will also be costly for us.

Now, what are the possible terms and conditions which we can impose aside from the fact that those who will be allowed to do so should be at the lower risk assessment? So we say that the first condition is that it can only be allowed in low-risk areas or those at least under modified general community quarantine in the transition phase. But it has to be on a case-to-case basis as advised by Secretary Galvez.

The next is, we were thinking that up to January 2021, during the third quarter, we can start allowing between August and at present, we will be assessing the schools. Secretary Galvez advises us to make physical inspections of the facilities of the schools. So we can do it up to January. But as I said, La Salle already is into it since June and then the little island of Siquijor has been quietly having its own version also since June as well.

Now what are other terms? We are saying, for example, Mr. President, that we should be coordinating not only within DepEd but the LGUs concerned because they are the ones asking for it mainly and the local health authorities.

And then the fourth condition that we would like to impose is we have to have stringent health standards especially at this time. We were thinking perhaps August ‘no, but with the new developments, the numbers and so on, we should be imposing stringent health standards as suggested by the Department of Health and also by IATF.

And some of these are — will take time, like preparing the buildings, making sure that social distancing will be — will be observed. And also, how do we do physical education and there is also advice that we have to… But this will not be difficult for our public schools kasi hindi naman sila air- conditioned. Dini-discourage ang air-conditioned classes, et cetera.

And also number five, takes into consideration very seriously the advice of Secretary Galvez and Secretary Año that we have to have joint inspection.

It’s not automatic. Kung low risk ka, puwede ka nang mag-open. No, they have to be inspected. And I was saying that DepEd, since the time of your mother structured in such a manner that you have people down to the principal level, the superintendent and so on, who really know what is the situation at the frontline level, so we want to follow the advice of the National Task Force.

So in summary, Mr. President, for basic education we are saying that maybe we can allow limited face-to-face learning but to be strictly regulated in the light of present conditions. So we have to listen to at least four agencies which would have an interest in the matter.

One, the location of the schools have to be assessed as low risk. But that is only the first step, Mr. President. Secondly, our schools have to be friendly to the idea of face-to-face during the time of COVID. Like we cannot allow schools — well, with very small classrooms. Kung small ang classrooms, we have to adjust the number of students in a class, maybe 10 per batch and so on.

And then they have to be in good state of repair, they are safe kasi dumaan na ng mga bagyo, may lindol, may putok ng bulkan, and we have to make sure na even if they are safe from COVID, they might not be safe also from weak or weakened buildings of ours.

So kailangan din standard ang physical condition ng aming schools. And then importante are — is that the schools should also meet the minimum health standards. We have already, as per your instruction, we already have organized and created also our minimum health standards and it is in writing. We have circulated it actually in DepEd already because school or no school, we are imposing the minimum health standards. And this is in consultation with DOH. We benefit so much from the — their advice.

And then fourth, the host local government, because they are largely the ones who are asking for this aside from the international schools, they have to be ready to support financially the schools because they have the SEF.

SEF is a national tax on real property. One percent of which should go to education in which the provinces collect. So it’s a national tax, it’s our national tax which the provinces are collecting. Iyong SEF, the Special Education Fund. So they have to be prepared to — to — to help finance the needs of these — of these schools.

So itong apat na conditions, Mr. President, have to be fulfilled before we allow limited — the accent is on “limited” because the public is reaction na. May meme pa sa Secretary of Education na I said daw “patay kung patay pero kailangan magklase,” which of course is not… I would not be capable of making such statement. It is widely circulated.

And so this is very important to us to continue the learning process, but at the same time assure the safety of our students.

So ayun, Mr. President. And then we have a written text also about this presentation. So ayun, for your consideration. Limited lang talaga, sir.

Like those who are asking are like Siquijor or like Dinagat Islands, Siargao, oo. They are the ones who probably halos zero level and then local governments who are now declared as low risk, ayun sila ang nag…

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: I’m with you on this.

SEC. BRIONES: Thank you.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Let’s try to make ourselves productive even how constricted the times are. Okay ako sa ano.

SEC. BRIONES: Thank you. Thank you, Mr. President.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Any other report? Let us — ‘yung… General Galvez, you want to say something? Ang ano nito is a…

It’s very hard for us really to impose itong ano iyong paglabas ng tao and even in the wearing of the mask. I hate to — you know, personally I hate to arrest people for a mere violation of a — a rule which they say that they have to… Ang problema kailangan masyado ang cooperation ng… The mayors have to do more. They have to do more. They have to take care…

I think — I’m addressing myself to Secretary Año — I think that we will… If there are so many violations in a particular place and, well of course, the police is lacking and the — the enforcement of inadequate response to the rules that we are imposing simply because we want people protected, o puwede naman sigurong ipatawag sila. Yes, sir.

DILG SECRETARY EDUARDO AÑO: Ah, Mr. President, magandang gabi po. Kanina pong umaga ay nagkarooon kami ng pagpupulong sa pangunguna po ni Secretary Duque, Secretary Lorenzana, at iba pang mga key members ng IATF.

Kausap po namin ‘yung mga opisyales ng ULAP, kasama po ‘yung League of Provinces, League of Cities, League of Municipalities, at Liga ng mga Barangay, at lahat po ng mga governors at mayors na under po ng GCQ. At maganda po ang naging resulta naman ng pag-uusap.

Nagkaroon po kami ng mga kasunduan po kung papaano ‘yung pagpapatupad ng mga localized lockdowns. Gagawa rin po sila ng kanilang proposal kung papaano po ang magandang paraan para mai-handle po ‘yung mga LSI na uuwi sa kani-kanilang probinsiya at ‘yung pagpapatupad po ng ano — ng health standards po.

Gusto naming magkaroon po ng isang implementation lang po ng pare-parehas about LGU kung ilang araw po dapat ikukulong ‘yung mga napa — mga nagva-violate sa pagsusuot ng masks — face mask, at hindi nagpi-physical distancing, at kung magkano po ‘yung multa para po kahit saan pumunta ay pare-parehas ‘yung pagpapatupad. Ito po kasi ang pinakaimportante eh para ma-prevent ‘yung pag-spread ng virus.

Magsimula po sa pagsunod sa panuntunan ng bawat mamamayan. Iyon pong mga pagkakaroon ng transmission sa iba’t ibang community ay iyon po bunga kapagka ang ating mga kababayan ay hindi sumusunod sa mga patakaran ng health standards.

At tuloy-tuloy po ‘yung aming pag-uusap. Gagawin naman po namin ay pupunta naman po kami sa ibaba at ‘yung mga partikular po ‘yung mga city at down po hanggang barangay na dapat ila-lockdown ay mayroon po kaming ‘yung tinatawag na CODE teams, ito po ‘yung Coordinated Operation to Defeat Epidemic.

Iyong mga expert po ay pupunta doon sa ibaba at tutulungan po talaga ‘yung ating mga mayor sa pagpapatupad ng lockdown. Kumpleto po ‘yung actions na gagawin mula po simula hanggang matapos at importante po talaga ‘yung mailipat po ‘yung mga positive na patient sa ating isolation facilities para hindi po makahawa sa community.

So tuloy-tuloy po ang ginagawa naming ugnayan sa ating mga mayors and governors. At sila naman po talaga ay pursigido po na maipatupad ‘yung mandato nila para matapos at malabanan itong COVID, Mr. President.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: There is a raging fight between federal government and itong local states sa America. Simply because there are mayors who refused to abide by these rules of… Well, everybody is talking about, all experts practically, be it in Europe or America, and the doctors, the eminent doctors, they only have — they only have one unison statement: “You want COVID slow down or stop? Wear a mask or do not go out of your house if you do not want to wear one.” Iyon lang at saka ‘yung social distancing. There is no other way that we can prevent COVID from transferring from one person to the other, unless we obey.

The only thing that’s going our way in our favor is that we are a unitary type of government at saka ma — ang hold ng central government is different from the United States. They have more freedom there and there are things which is no-no and nobody can…

But dito sa Pilipinas ‘pag sinabi ng, well, whatever department has — ‘pag sinabi niya na ganoon, ganoon talaga and you can enforce the law. Otherwise, they would be guilty of, well, simple gross negligence or outright if the Secretary of Local Government would deem it necessary for your wanton, then you can be suspended, and as a matter of fact, you can be terminated.

Iyan lang ang nakapabuti sa… Eh ‘yung iba kasi ayaw. That has no place in the Philippines because everybody is bound by the national policy. Itong — itong atin naman, ang Task Force is really for the good of the people, for all.

Kaya we do not have any qualms in arresting people. It might… Under ordinary times, that’s what I’m saying — about to say kanina, is that a simple violation of not wearing a mask, it used to be trivial and social distancing, all of these things.

But during times of health issues, pandemonium, you can because it can be a serious crime, transmitting your… The theory is that you are the carrier that is why you should wear a mask so as not to pass on the infection to the other guy. Baliktad ang psychology diyan para talagang maniwala kayo.

So we will have to ask our police to be more strict. So hulihin talaga. A little shame would put them on notice forever. Sino ba namang gustong mahuli ka. But if you are brought to the police station and detained there, that would give you a lesson for all time.

So ganoon na lang at saka nakiki — ‘yung makikita nila. ‘Yung — ang anong mahirap itong nasa squatters, ganoon din sa Davao sabi nila. Sabi nila, hindi ako nagpunta doon. You ask the police to function the way they should in times like these.

Is there any other?

DOH SECRETARY FRANCISCO DUQUE III: Mr. President, magandang gabi po sa inyo, Mr. Senator and fellow members of the IATF.

Kanina po nagpulong kami ng — gaya po ng nabanggit ni Secretary Ed Año, ang mga kinatawan po ng Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines at ang League of Provinces of the Philippines, at ang mga League of Municipalities, at iba pa pong mga associations or leagues ‘no, na binubuo po ito ng mga iba’t ibang mga local chief executives, governors and mayors.

At kanina po ginamit namin ang pagkakataon na ibahagi sa kanila ang mga karanasan na magagandang mga karanasan ng atin pong mga ibang local chief executives, ‘yon pong kanilang best practices.

Ang isa pong halimbawa dito ‘yung sa Baguio City. Sa kanya pong containment strategy, si Mayor Benjie Magalong ay kanya pong shinare (share) o ibinahagi ‘yung success elements of his containment strategy, lalo na po sa — patungkol sa contact tracing, Mr. President.

So ‘yung contact tracing ng Baguio po ay talagang masinsinan, at talagang kanila pong nasasakupan, ang mga na-expose sa bawat positive case ng COVID, at sa totoo nga lang po, Mr. President, ang kanilang ratio is one is to 37. For every one positive case, mga 37 ang kanila pong nate-trace na na-expose po doon sa positive confirmed case.

At maganda po ang naging resulta nito dahil naabot nila ‘yung mga tao, ‘yung first generation contacts hanggang sa second generation contacts at ito pong mga ito ay nate-test nila, Mr. President.

At sa larangan naman ng testing, si ginoong — si Secretary Vince Dizon naman po, bilang ating tinagurian na testing czar ay nanigurado po na ang testing capacity ay patuloy ang pagtaas at ang daily testing output po ay — ay mapapataas din po dahil nga kung mas marami pong mate-trace kinakailangan ma-test po sila kaagad.

At ang sabi po ni Sec. Di — Sec. Dizon ay maaabot po natin ang 10 million tests by 2021. As of today, ang total tested individuals natin, umabot na po ng mga 1,120,000, Mr. President.

So ganoon din pong pagpupulong kanina ay ibinigay din po ang mga — ang mga developments patungkol po sa expansion ng mga isolation and quarantine facilities ng atin pong Oplan Kalinga at si Secretary Mark Villar naman po ang nangunguna sa pagpapausbong at pagpapalawig po ng lahat ng ating mga isolation testing facili — isolation and quarantine facilities, kasama na din po ang mga evacuation centers na posibleng convertible into isolation or quarantine facilities, Mr. President.

At kasama din doon po aming ipinaulat kay Usec. Bong Vega, ang bago pong luklok na ating Undersecretary of Health na tutukan po at buuin ‘yung atin pong one hospital command system para ang referral system po ay maging maayos mula sa Level I, Level II, and Level III hospitals and related facilities.

So maganda naman po ang naging — ang naging resulta ng amin pong pagpupulong. Although, there will be additional meetings so that we will be able to solidify the agreements and the recommendations po na we arrived at in this morning’s meeting.

So iyon po ang report — iyong apat sa contact tracing czar ni Benjie Magalong, ang testing czar po natin na si Secretary Vince Dizon, at ang ating Oplan Kalinga isolation quarantine czar na si Secretary Mark Villar, and last but not the least, si Usec. Bong Vega of the DOH who will take charge of increasing bed capacities for critical and severe cases.

Kasi alam niyo po, Mr. President, ang isa po sa ating pinupunterya rito ay hanggang’t sa maaari wala sanang mamamatay, Mr. President. So ‘yung early detection napakamahalaga po rito at ang clinical management, kinakailangan po clinical best practice management of all COVID cases across all the clinical spectrum of the COVID cases.

So ito po, naging mabunga po ang amin pong meeting kanina, Ginoong Pangulo, at ifa-follow up po ito through a recommendation that will finally be approved by the IATF on Monday next week po.

So iyon lang po ang karagdagang ulat patungkol po sa atin pong mga meetings at in fact nag-meeting din po kami last Saturday, Mr. President, ng mga bilang ng mga punong lungsod ng NCR na kung saan po medyo hirap po sila sa kanilang containment strategy at pinakiusapan po namin sila na sabihin sa amin kung ano po ‘yung mga kanilang tulong na kinakailangan para maayudahan po ng national government.

At doon na nga po ay nakapagbigay po tayo ng suporta not only in terms of technical support but also in terms of direct assistance, testing, quarantine facilities.

In fact, ang DepEd nga ay kanila pong sinulatan through the IATF na humihingi ng pahintulot na i-extend po ‘yung gamit ng mga eskuwelahan as quarantine facilities.

At nagpapasalamat naman po kami kay Secretary Liling Briones na nagbigay po ng kanyang pahintulot na para po natin mapagamit sa kanila ang mga naturang classrooms.

Iyon lang po, Mr. President. Salamat po.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: May I just add. Viewing the events of COVID — ‘yung dimensions ng COVID, in other countries, they have this efficient — ‘yung ano nila, ‘yung follow up na contact tracing. Iyong iba naman, dito sa atin mahirap. I think — but it can be done. But I said it’s a Herculean task to do it.

Second is ‘yung testing ho. Do we have the capacity to do the testing for every citizen in this country?

SEC. DUQUE: Sir, ‘yung testing capacity po natin sa ngayon asa 74,000. But the daily testing output is anywhere from about 20[000] to 23,000 daily. [Official: [inaudible]) Ah na-reach na po ‘yung 25,000. Ang target po natin is 10 million Filipinos to be tested by 2021.

And we hope to be able to do the test at 32,000 to about 40,000 a day, Mr. President. So hindi naman po natin puwedeng i-test ang bawat mamamayan. Wala pong bansa ang nakakagawa nito kahit na po ang pinakamayaman katulad ng United States of America.

Hanggang ngayon, sila na nga po ang may pinakamataas na kaso, sila din po ang may pinakamataas na namamatay na kanilang mamamayan pero ang kanilang testing asa 40 million na, Mr. President. And that’s almost close to nine percent of the total population of the US of about 370 million Americans.

So tayo po, malalagpasan po natin ‘yon magiging mga 10 percent po tayo. Of the total population of the Philippines at 109 million, we might be able to reach about 10 million Filipinos by 2021.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: I’ll say this again because ‘yung testing is also a problem for the US. They have to, you know, in highways they have to put up some special lanes for you to slow down and do something. If you haven’t been tested, you will be tested.

It’s a bit compulsory in the sense that you cannot go anywhere except follow the straight line. And when your time is up, when you are there in front of the medical person, they would swab you and test.

Dito sa atin, well I think 10,000 will be a good number if you can achieve that. Ang atin lang is I said reduce… The thing is if we — if we can do it actually, we have to reduce it to the barest minimum na ano — ‘yung tao na hindi ma-ano — iyong ayaw.

In America, because they do not — a good number of people there do not want to be tested because they do not believe in it. So that’s the problem.

Same with Brazil. It’s only now that people are dying and they are short of coffins that they realized that they have to follow the WHO.

Wala kasi maniwala noon nitong sa mask pati ‘yung social distancing. When as a matter of fact, it was the most elementary sa lahat ng ano ko. Right at the beginning of the pandemonium — right at the beginning, it was really a prescribed, mandatory thing to have a mask.

So kung ma-ano natin ang Pilipino to wear mask, and be weakened, I said reduce the number of patients.

Any other comment? Secretary Galvez?

PRESIDENTIAL ADVISER ON PEACE PROCESS AND NTF COVID-19 CHIEF IMPLEMENTER CARLITO GALVEZ JR.: Sir, susundan ko lang po sir ang mga sinabi po ni Secretary Duque pertaining ‘yung pagtalaga po natin ng apat na czar. Kasi po ‘yung ating haligi ng ating National Action Plan ay binubuo po ng test, trace, isolate at saka po ‘yung treat.

Dahil po sa lumalaki na bilang ng ano po — ng ating COVID cases, kailangan po talagang matutukan po ‘yung apat na haligi po nito dahil kasi ito po ay talagang — sa lahat po ng mga ibang bansa na naging nakita nating nagiging maganda ang kanilang kalagayan, ay ‘yung apat po nito ang talagang haligi ng kanilang mga estratehiya.

Unang-una po kasi, ‘yung sa ano po, sa trace, ngayon lang po namin nalaman na iyong ginagawa pala ng ating mga mayors ay kulang pa dahil kasi karamihan po noong in-assess po ni General Magalong, iyong lahat ng mga NCR mayors, binigay po nila iyong mga report. Nagpunta rin po siya sa Cebu, nagpunta rin po siya sa Region IV-A at ngayon po — bukas pupunta po siya sa Region III, nakita po natin kulang pa ‘yung ginagawa nating testing dahil po karamihan, pagka po nag-trace tayo ay mababa po ‘yung nati-trace natin.

Minsan karamihan po sa mga ano — ang ratio po ng mga nakukuha ng mayor is one is to 20 ang pinakamataas. Ang iba pa is 1:3. Ibig sabihin, mayroon pong nakakawala na mga positive na gumagala po sa atin.

Maganda po ‘yung ano po, yung ginagawa po ni General Magalong kasi si General Magalong po na-reduce niya po ‘yung kanyang — kanyang ano, kanyang cases from as high as 49 to zero. So talaga nai-zero niya po ‘yung ano sa ‘yung mga cases niya. And for almost two weeks, wala po siyang new cases. Titingnan po natin ‘yung kanyang ano, kanyang kakayahan.

Ito rin po ang pinaka-basic ginawa ng ano ng Japan. Ang ginawa po ng Japan is how to ano, to follow the trail of the TB, mga infectious diseases. So ang ginawa po ng Japan pinalakas po nila ‘yung tinatawag  nilang more than hundreds of BHERTs, ‘yung BHERTs ‘yung mga community — community facilities.

Iyong BHERTs po natin ito ‘yung tinatawag na Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams. Ito po ‘yung talagang kung tutuusin natin ‘yung sa Cebu experience po natin, ‘yon po ang pinalakas po ni General Cimatu.

Noong kinausap niya po ‘yung 80 na barangays ng Cebu, gumanda po ang kalagayan na po ngayon ng Cebu. Tumaas po ang kanyang doubling time at the same time, ‘yung kanyang R-naught bumaba po ng 1.1. Ibig sabihin ‘yung reproduction niya po, ‘yung transmission, bumaba.

Ngayon po nakikita po natin maganda po ang ginagawa ni General Magalong because of his passion. Nagmi-meeting siya sa lahat ng mga mayors at kinukumpara niya ‘yung mga experience ng ibang bansa at saka ‘yung experience ng Baguio kung paano po mapa — ma ano, mapaayos ang tracing.

At ganoon din po ‘yung sa India, ‘yung sinasabi nga po ni ano, in-introduce po sa amin ni SOH, ni Secretary Duque, ‘yung the Rabi model wherein ‘yung — ‘yung hospital po ang pumupunta doon sa mga slum areas. Sila po ang nag-iisa-isa, nagha-house-to-house kung sino po ‘yung mga may kaso ng ano, ng COVID.

Doon lang po natin makukuha po ang — talagang makuha po natin, na ma-isolate po natin siya. At ‘yon po nakikita po natin ginagawa po ngayon ng ating mga czar na si ano, si Secretary Vince ay talagang pina-aakyat niya po ang kapasidad natin sa testing. Pati po ‘yung supply chain po niya or supply chain po natin, ‘yung mga consumables, inayos niya rin po.

So ngayon po puwede na tayong makapag-test ng… Na-break na po natin ang 26, 900 na test natin noong July 17. So ibig sabihin nakapagti-test na po tayo isang araw na more or less 27,000 a day.

Pagka na-reach po natin ‘yung ano, na-reach po natin ‘yung 32, sinasabi po ng ating mga dalubhasa na we can save more than 4,000 to 6,000 deaths. Meaning, maiiwasan po natin ‘yung tinatawag nating magkaroon ng dead on arrival.

At the same time, bababa po ‘yung mga severe cases kasi nagkakaroon na po tayo ng early detection kasi po na — pagka na-detect po natin kaagad nang maaga, asymptomatic at moderate, puwede na po nating gamutin.

Iyon din po ang kagandahan po ngayon na  magkakasama po kaming — kasama po ni SOH nagpupunta po kami sa lahat ng mga ospital. Tinitingnan po namin ang capacity.

Mr. President, makikita natin kung maitaas lang natin ang ICU natin na more than 1,000 na ICU beds at saka po ‘yung isolation beds dito sa Metro Manila, medyo makakagaan na po kasi kinausap namin po ang mga hospital.

Kung sa ward beds, kaya po nating i-expand kasi ang ano po ng ano ng hospital, 30 percent lang po ang kanilang COVID patients. Puwede pa nating i-extend. Pero ‘yung ICU po ang hindi po natin ma-extend kasi limited po ang ICU. At karamihan po ng mga critical at saka mga tinatawag natin pong critical at saka mga severe, iyon po ang nandoon sa ICU.

So if we will try to ano, to — to — tinatawag natin to dance with the virus. Ang isang estratehiya po natin dapat palakasin po natin ang ICU natin. At iyon po nakita po namin sa Quirino Memorial Hospital, mayroon po tayong mega ER.

Iyong isang — ‘yung isang ano po, ‘yung isang — isang floor po doon ginagawa ngayon. Iyong isang floor parang isang ER na po ‘yon at mayroon siyang 50 ICU beds.

At doon po sa ano, sa East Avenue Medical Center, binisita rin po namin ni Dr. Vega at nakita po namin doon mayroon po tayong 250 beds at saka mayroon po tayong 25 ICU beds.

Kung ‘yon po ma-dedicate po natin na COVID — sa COVID lang po ‘yon, maganda po na magkaroon po tayo ng tinatawag sa Metro Manila na four COVID hospitals dedicated. Kasi po ang problema po natin pagka — kung may — kumakain po tayo ng percentage doon sa mga patient po na non-COVID,  ‘yung non-COVID po ang naco-compromise, ‘yung mga tinatawag nating may dialysis, ‘yung mga cancer, ‘yon po ang mga nagiging casualty po.

So ang nakikita po namin, we will be recommending na kung magkaroon po na tayo ng zoning sa NCR, mayroon po dapat tayo na apat na COVID hospitals para ‘yon dedicated na hospitals na ginawa po ng China na nagkaroon siya ng — in 10 days, they build a COVID-dedicated hospital.

Iyon po ang nakikita namin na mas maganda po kasi nakita natin si Dr. Vega, ang ginawa po ni Dr. Vega ay nagkaroon siya ng tinatawag na one referral system sa buong NCR at saka sa Cebu.

Iyong experience po natin sa Cebu nakita po natin gumanda po dahil kasi noong pinag-aralan po ni Dr. Vega na ‘yung treatment and care natin mababawasan po ang pagkamamatay dahil kasi early treatment at saka po ‘yung early detection.

So ‘yung pag-decide po natin na mayroon po tayong apat na czar, maganda po ‘yon kasi ‘yung kay Secretary Villar po, more than 167 na evacuation building ang naipagawa niya at ngayon po nagagamit na po natin ‘yung 68 doon sa COVID patients na more than 2,500 na po ang kanyang gumagamit po doon.

Kaya po lahat po ng tao na mga dedicated na nai-assign po natin, si General Magalong, he has the passion to really search for ano, for the track — to track ‘yung lahat po ng mga cases.

At the same time, si Vince Dizon naman, he is very passionate in ramping up the test — the testing capacity that we have.

And also with the supervision of Secretary Villar, ‘yung DPWH po nationwide po gumagawa po ng mga quarantine facilities so that we can ready the capacity kung just in case magkaroon ng surge, kayang-kaya po natin.

And at the same time, si Dr. Vega, through the direction of the DOH, kayang-kaya po natin kahit na mag-open tayo ng economy, we will be ready to cope and dance with the virus by having an additional capacity especially kung makapag-produce po tayo ng COVID-dedicated hospital para hindi po tayo magkaroon din ng casualty sa non-COVID, ‘yon po ang maganda pong gawin po natin, sir.

Iyon lang po, mahal na Presidente, ‘yon po ang aming report po sa inyo.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: My countrymen, we continue to meet regularly to talk about our problem. Perhaps our number one problem today is the COVID.

I am as mad as you. Galit ako, pareho tayo sa nangyari. And ginusto ninyo na buksan ko na ang puwerta.

Gusto ko ‘yan, gusto ko. Ang nagpipigil na lang sa akin ang science. Gusto ko kasi nagalit na pati ako nakulong ng ilang buwan. Naging inutil na rin ako eh. I have become — except for the voluminous papers, na inutil na ako, wala na akong magawa na… Ewan ko.

But you know, COVID is COVID. Alam ninyo, sa America, sa ibang lugar, for those countries — pati China nga eh — too early, maaga sila binukas. Sinabi sila ng WHO “huwag.” Binuksan nila, ah ngayon nagbalik sila, parang second wave.

America is still number one with so many thousands dying. Hindi ito biro, hindi naman ito sabihin mo imbento. Makikita mo naman sa TV at ibinabalita naman dito sa atin.

So we are trying our best. We have the Secretary of — sa Spokesman to keep you informed of what we are doing; si General Delfin Lorenzana; Dr. Duque who has my trust; si General Galvez; General Año; si ma’am, sa education kay isang sector ‘yan na worried kami.

Alam mo ang edukasyon kinabukasan ng mga bata ‘yan. They have to finish a course na para mabuhay sila. So I know the apprehensions of Secretary Briones pero maghintay kayo. So maghintay na lang.

Actually ang ipinangako ko sa inyo kung mayroon ng — ano ito — iyong vaccine.
Mayroon na, finals sa trial.

Sa Russia, binitawan na nila. I’m sure China has already won, ang Amerika… Ang takot ko lang nga noon kasi nga mahirap tayo, and we need so many millions also. As a matter of fact, I would need about 110 million para mapainom ko sa lahat para…

Ang COVID nandiyan pa pero maging inutil na. Pagka naka inom na tayo ng ano — ah vaccine — iyong influenza, iyong H1N1, nandiyan iyan sila pero ‘pag nakainom ka na ng vaccine, purnada na ‘yan sila but they remain on the air but we are immunized already. So maghintay lang kayo nang kaunti.

Para sa mga plano natin, put it something like hanggang towards the end of the year. But if there is a thing that develops which is really good for you, mauna ako — mag-utang ako. Magpabili ako kung  saan magpabili ng lupa para ipagbili ko ng — ibili ko ng medisina.

In the meantime, wala. ni-America, Europe, wala isa o isa lang ang ano nila o dalawa, tatlo. Social distancing, huwag kayong mag-sigaw-sigawan, nakadikit-dikit. Mask, America, Russia lahat China, mask, ito importante talaga.

Ngayon, kung wala kayo, I will try to buy as many as I can afford kung kaya ko, ibigay namin iyan sa inyo libre but wear it, and maski na gamitin mo siguro iyan ng dalawang beses okay man lang kung i-sprayan mo lang ng alcohol pagkatapos. Huwag iyong ini-i-spray mo at isuot mo kaagad. Iyong pagkatapos ng araw, hang it somewhere, i-sprayan mo lang ng lysol if you can afford it.

Iyong wala, ibabad mo ng gasolina o diesel, p****** i** COVID na ‘yan. Hindi uubra ‘yan diyan. Totoo. Kung wala kayo — if you want to disinfect, maghanap ka ng gasolina. Ibabad mo lang iyong kamay mo. Layo mo lang kay baka — huwag sa loob ng bahay ninyo.

In the meantime, ang importante talaga dito is your perseverance. That’s the word. You must persevere during this time. Simplehin ko, patience. Tutal dadating rin ‘yan. Marunong ang Diyos. Alam niya hindi tayo niya pababayaan especially Pilipinas kasi Kristiyanos tayo.

So magsakripisyo lang tayo nang kaunti tutal ang ating idol, nagsakripisyo man rin, pinaghahampas-hampas, ipinako pa sa krus. Tayo pasimba-simba man lang, luhod-luhod ka lang diyan. So dedicate it to the Lord that you also suffer for the country.

Maraming salamat po. [applause]

 

 

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SOURCE: PCOO-PND (Presidential News Desk)