PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESPERSON HARRY ROQUE: Mayor, sa lahat po ng classification MECQ, GCQ at MGCQ kinakailangan homeliners po tayo. Bawal lumabas unless para po sa mga indispensable na mga pangangailangan natin at o ‘di naman po kaya para magtrabaho doon sa mga industriya na pinapayagan na.

Bawal po lumabas ang mga under 21 at ang mga seniors; ang mga mayroon pong sakit, ‘yung comorbidities na tinatawag; at ‘yung mga buntis.

Pero sa MECQ po, nakasarado po ang ating ekonomiya pa rin. Mga 25 porsiyento lang po ng mga industriya ang bukas. Ang pupuwede lang po ay ‘yung mga indispensable industries gaya po nung mga bangko, supermarket at saka ‘yung mga BPOs, mga export-oriented industries at wala po tayong public gathering, wala tayong mass assembly, ang religious services po hanggang lima lamang ‘no. At wala nga po tayong transportasyon kinakailangan ‘yung mga bukas na industriya eh mag-provide po sila ng mga shuttle at saka mga PCP, ah Point-to-Point transportation.

Pero mananatili pong sarado ‘yung mga matataong mga negosyo gaya po ng sinehan, ‘yung mga amusement, ‘yung mga para sa mga pambata. Pero mayroon na po tayong transportasyon sa GCQ, 20 porsiyento hanggang 50 porsiyento ‘no.

Iyong mga opisina po ng gobyerno na importante po kritikal eh nagbubukas na rin po ‘no. Ang mga industriya po na allowed na po sa GCQ eh halos lahat naman po except po ‘yung mga matatao pero sa mga gatherings po hanggang sampung tao lang po or 10 percent ‘no. At dito nga po sa Metro Manila, nakiusap ang mga mayors sa mga religious gatherings hanggang sampung katao lang po.

At pagdating naman po dito sa MGCQ, well unang-una po ang malaking pagkakaiba diyan mayroon pong transportasyon at bukod pa po diyan 50 percent po pupuwede nang magkaroon ng public gathering. Puwede na po ‘yung mga sinehan, ‘yung mga concerts, mga sporting events pero hanggang 50 percent capacity lang po at kasama po diyan ‘yung mga religious gatherings. So ang turismo po bukas na rin po sa MGCQ.

So para pong halos lahat naman ng industriya nabubuksan na kaya lang po nililimita natin ‘yung mga taong pupuwedeng magtipon-tipon hanggang 50 percent lamang po.

Salamat po.

PRESIDENT RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE: I’d like to call Secretary Duque of the Department of Health. 

DOH SECRETARY FRANCISCO DUQUE III: Magandang gabi po, Mr. President, and Ginoong Senator Bong Go at ang akin pong mga kasama sa Gabinete.

Ang akin pong ire-report ngayon ay ang updates on COVID-19. As of August 31, may nadagdag na mahigit 3,000 kaso or 3,446 new cases. Sa nadagdag [next slide please] sa nadagdag na 3,446 cases, 2,965 ay fresh cases at 481 ay late cases.

Kung titignan po ang mga naitalang daily cases, sir, lagpas pa rin siya sa median at 75 percentile lines na nangangahulugang

mataas pa rin ang ating daily cases per day at kinakailangan pang paigtingin ang ating mga preventive measures upang mapigilan ang patuloy na pagtaas ng mga kaso.

Subalit amin pong napansin na mayroon pong pagbaba ng kaso mula noong tayo ay bumalik sa modified enhanced community quarantine at dito po we have breached the 7-day doubling time at nandoon po tayo sa mga 12 to 13 days doubling time.

Nagpapasalamat din po tayo sa atin pong mga doktor, mga nurses, ang atin pong mga healthcare workers dahil po sa kanilang matapat na paninilbihan ay gumanda po ang kanilang pagkalinga at paggamot ng atin pong mga severe and critical cases kanya naman po ay we have managed to keep our death rates at a relatively low level.

Makakaasa po ang ating healthcare workers na ating binabantayan ang kanilang health and safety at maraming salamat po, Mr. President, dahil ‘yon pong kanilang allowance, ‘yung pong kanilang health — life insurance, accommodation, transportation ay ito po ‘yung inyong iniutos at nakasama na po ito sa Bayanihan Act 2 at pati po ‘yung pagbibigay ng labing-limang libong piso para doon po sa mga may mild cases.

Sa larangan naman po ng human resource, [next slide] as of August 30, 2020, nakapag-deploy tayo ng 21, 934 health personnel for COVID-19 response. Priority health facilities na nangangailangan ng mga health personnel for COVID-19 response ay nabigyan ng 378 post-residency deployed physicians, 1,396 redeployed nurses under the DOH HRH Deployment Program at 7,388 health personnel hired through emergency process.

Iyon pong aking mga susunod na report ay akin pong ipapasa with your permission, Mr. President, kay Spox Secretary Harry Roque for the community quarantine classification.

 SEC. ROQUE: Mayor, ang recommendation po ng inyong IATF ay ipasailalim sa modified ECQ ang siyudad ng Iligan. Rekomendasyon din po nila na ipasailalim sa general community quarantine ang National Capital Region, ang probinsiya ng Bulacan, ang probinsiya ng Batangas, ang City of Tacloban, at ang City of Bacolod.

Ang iba pa pong parte ng Pilipinas ang rekomendasyon po ay ipasailalim sa modified GCQ.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Any other? Are you through with your report, Secretary?

SEC. DUQUE: We’re done, Mr. President. Thank you, sir.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Who is next? Secretary Galvez?

PRESIDENTIAL ADVISER ON PEACE PROCESS AND NTF COVID-19 CHIEF IMPLEMENTER CARLITO 

GALVEZ JR.: Sir, to support the report of our Secretary of DOH, we have remaining focus areas na tinitingnan po natin Mahal na Presidente. Ito po ‘yung NCR with 17 LGUs; ‘yung CALABARZON kasama po ang Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, and Batangas; ‘yung Central Luzon kasama po ang Bulacan, Pampanga, Bataan, Zambales, sa Zambales po mayroon pong nag-ano po sa Masinloc pero kayang-kaya po ni ano ni Governor Ebdane po at nag-usap na po kami.

Sa Western Visayas sa Iloilo City, Iloilo, Negros Occidental at saka Bacolod. Sa Bacolod po sir tinulungan po natin ‘yung ano ‘yung city mayor doon si Mayor Bing. Nagpadala po tayo ng ano ng through the Biocare, nagpadala po tayo ng 400 na Remdesivir at saka mayroon po tayong 2,000 na PPE and then nagpa-deploy din po tayo ng five high flow nasal cannula dahil po kailangang-kailangan po nila dahil kasi may mga severe cases po doon. So natuwa naman po si Mayor Bing dahil mabilis po ‘yung ating pag-ano, pag-ano po kasi po nag-usap po kami ng Secretary po ni SBG na mapabilis ‘yung ano ‘yung transport at nagpapasalamat po kami kay Secretary Del na napadala po kaagad ‘yung ano ‘yung kailangang-kailangan po na mga gamot para po doon sa critical doon sa Bacolod City.

Mahal na Pangulo, pumunta rin po ako sa Northern Luzon, binisita ko rin po ‘yung Northern Mindanao, ‘yung Cagayan de Oro. Tumaas po ‘yung kaso ng Iligan City at nagpapasalamat din po ako kay Mayor po Oca Moreno na tinutulungan niya po ‘yung ano ‘yung Iligan.

So iyon po ang ginagawa po natin pinaga-ano po natin ‘yung ating mga mayors lalo na dito sa NCR nagtutulungan din po sila. So iyon po ang ginagawa po natin.

And then tumawag rin po si Mayor Beng Climaco. Nag-text po siya kailangan niya po ng test kits so magpapadala rin po tayo dahil kasi tumataas rin po ang kaso niya because of the LSI at saka ‘yung mga importations at saka may mga local transmission na po siya doon.

And then marami pa po tayong iko-construct sir na ang ano natin ang target po natin i-expand po natin ang capacity natin sa ating mga hospitals na more or less 1,000 po na additional beds.

So may expansion po tayong ginagawa sa PGH, mayroon po tayong expansion sa Rizal Hospital, mayroon din po tayo sa Quezon Institute at sa iba pang mga ano — mga ospital dito sa Metro Manila na more or less 1,000 beds po ang i-ano po natin doon.

Dahil kasi pagka nagplano po tayo na magluwag sa ekonomiya, kailangan po talaga palakasin po natin ang ano po — ang treatment facility po natin especially po ‘yung ICU at ating mga ER.

At the same time, palakasin din po natin ‘yung treatment capacity po ng — lalo na po ng Metro Manila at saka ‘yung mga centers na nakikita po natin na pagka nag-open po ay may possibility po na umangat po ang mga severe cases.

Sa ngayon po, natutuwa po kami dahil kasi sa pagbisita po namin sa mga ospital, nakita po namin talaga na ‘yung ating mga doktor at saka mga nurses, walang ano po — wala pong tigil ang kanilang ano — kanilang pagtatrabaho.

At ngayon nga po dahil National Heroes Day, nag-ano po si Secretary Lorenzana na nagbigay po siya ng statement in supporting our healthcare workers na alam natin sila ang inaasahan nating mga heroes today because sila po ano. So nagbigay po kami ng joint statement in support of our health workers.

Maraming salamat po, Mahal na Presidente.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Ito minsang pinapalayas nila ang mga health workers, mga nurses sa mga boarding houses and those working in the hospitals. They are summarily dismissed from the residence whether it is leased, rented or…

Iyan ang nakaka-ano ng loob. Kaya itong mga ‘to we must have a mechanism. Sasaluhin natin ito dito. We can always rent. Maraming bakanteng hotel ngayon eh. Tutal utangin lang natin. Tutal mababayaran naman ‘yan.

I would like to make this announcement. Kayong lahat na mga health workers na pinapaalis sa mga inyong tinitirahan — [Tama ba ‘yon?] — sa mga bahay, whether you’re renting a room or a house or whatnot pero dahil nga nasa frontliner ka sa COVID, pinapaalis kayo because of the fear unfounded na mahawa ninyo ang may-ari ng mga bahay at ‘yung mga kasamahan ninyo sa mga dormitoryo.

If this happens, you can call directly the office of Secretary Galvez and we will provide you with the necessary billeting and pati pagkain na, and we will choose a place nearest to where you are working.

Isabi mo lang ang pangalan ‘yung may-ari ng building, may-ari ng boarding house, may-ari ng ano, at I will call their attention publicly so that kung sila ang magkasakit, huwag na silang tanggapin sa ospital rin. Parang ganun. Mabuti siguro, tit-for-tat.

Well, anyway, I’m joking. But you know, it’s something that is not really a positive move, you know, that we are suffering and we are experiencing a lack of everything. We are trying to make up for the deficiencies.

And luckily, the Philippines has able to at least meet halfway of what was the expectations of the people. Iyan sana. Maawa naman ako sa mga tao na tumutulong tapos pinapaalis. Hindi ho maganda pakinggan.

So it behooves in this government to do something about it. To do something about it, we will find a house, a hotel, a motel na — ang motel buhay ‘yan. Ang hotel ang wala. But ang motel, full house ‘yan. Hindi naniniwala ng COVID ‘yang mga animal na ‘yan. Hotel…

At saka we will — we will treat you decently. The long and short of it is parang tao ka. And since you are there, I said obligasyon ng gobyerno na tumulong.

Now, before I call the next speaker, ipakilala ko lang sa inyo ‘yung bagong kinuha ko na PhilHealth, si Gierran. He was the retired director of the NBI.

Si Gierran he is a lawyer and an accountant. So palagay ko, sabi ko sa kanya, “The next two years will be devoted to fight against corruption. Maghanap kayo nang mapakulong natin para may maiwan tayo sa kulungan ng mga…”

Sabi ko I’ll give you just like the NBI and Customs. I called Jagger, si Guerrero dito, Commissioner, sabi ko sa kanya, “I want to see a reshuffle of the different regional offices within the next two or three days.”

That goes for the NBI pati PhilHealth. Iyong mga tao na ayaw tanggalin, ibigay mo ‘yung pangalan nila, I will send them a memorandum. I will ask them to report to me dito sa Malacañan. Tutal pagkatapos, wala naman akong gamit dito. I will ask them to do a research on how to — how not to serve a government properly. That should be the — ‘yung thesis niya: how not to serve the government properly. You study on that and ‘yung lahat ng ano — mga regional vice presidents, tanggalin ninyo whether performing at par or in parity with the other good ones.

You know, if they are there for so long a time, the element of familiarity always enters the picture. Iyan ang mahirap diyan. Kung matagal na, tanggalin na. Iyong ayaw magtanggal — ayaw magpatanggal, mag-report kayo dito sa opisina.

And, anyway, the Secretary of Justice is winding up his investigation. I think that he has — he has seen proof enough to come up with an indictment. I hope that this sad episode in our national life — in our journey towards nation-building will be somehow corrected.

Wala na bang ibang magsalita sa atin? Si Delfin then next is… Tapos we’ll reserve the last slot for the incoming health ano. Mukhang matapang ‘to. Ang hairline kalahati na lang eh. Mahusay na ‘to. He must be studious.

Sige, Del, you can proceed.

DND SECRETARY DELFIN LORENZANA:

Magandang gabi, Ginoong Presidente. Tatlong bagay lang po. Una, ‘yung ating repatriation ng OFWs, tuloy-tuloy pa rin. Na-stabilize na po natin ‘yan. Ang average natin ngayon is 1,500.

Ang total po na dumating so far since April is 174,000. So okay lang po ‘yon. Dumating na po ‘yung third batch ng ating mga namatay sa Middle East: 72 noong weekend – 62 po ‘yung COVID-related; iyong sampu, hindi COVID-related.

Iyong third batch din po ng ano, ng mga Pilipinong umuuwi galing sa Sabah, dumating na noong two days ago, 379. Na-testing na po sila doon sa Sabah bago umalis. COVID-free po sila lahat. Karamihan po dito ay nakatira sa Tawi-Tawi, Jolo, at saka Basilan, kaunting Zamboanga. So okay lang po ‘yung ating mga repatriation.

Salamat po. Iyon lang po.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Well, you know, if there is one thing that we have shown a consistent behavior is really our treatment in the matter of receiving our returning fellow Filipinos from abroad. Lalo na noong pumutok ang COVID, everything closed down. Dito nawalaan ng trabaho, mas lalo sila doon. Ang problema kasi mas malayo sila so mas kulang ang pera.

Now, we have to — we had to intervene and I am not — hindi ako ganito but I am not prone to just throw away praises but iyong trabaho mo, Del, was really a good one and I’d like to thank you for it and…

Ma’am, Secretary of Education, Secretary Briones.

DEPED SECRETARY LEONOR BRIONES: I would like to brief you, Mr. President, on the recent directives which you issued wherein you specifically mentioned the Department of Education.

But before that, ano ang status ngayon ng enrollment natin? People were saying especially the left and the opposition that nobody will enroll because of COVID and they were calling for academic freeze kuno. But right now, Mr. President, as of this morning abot na ng 23.9 million learners ang nag-enroll sa…

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Really?

SEC. BRIONES: Yes. Everyday may humahabol ‘no. And original target natin, sabi namin kung makuha lang natin 80 percent of last year’s enrollment because of COVID and the downturn in the economy, okay na ‘yan. Iyon ang aming commitment sa NEDA. Pero ngayon, it’s already 86.8 percent ang — of last year’s numbers.

Ang public school natin, Mr. President, 97 percent na of last year’s enrollment nakuha natin. I’d also like to report, Mr. President, kasi we are introducing — and thank you for mentioning in your SONA the approach to learning which we are initiating — ‘yung distance education as well as blended learning.

Sabi namin i-dry run namin, i-simulate namin kasi ngayon lang ito nangyayari na aside from online platforms, we will be using TV, we are going to use radio, in addition to printed materials. So umabot na ng 516 schools all over the country nag-dry run at nakita natin ang mga challenges, nako-correct kaagad.

So ang challenge na remaining, Mr. President, are the learners from the private sector kasi 43 percent pa lang ang mga learners from the private sector ang nakabalik. But we believe that with the opening of the economy, makakuha na uli ng trabaho ang mga parents, ang OFWs may trabaho na sila kasi karamihang OFWs usually send their children to private schools, small or big private schools.

At saka ‘yung alternative learning, ‘yung mga nagtatrabaho, they go to school at night, they go to school on weekends.  Dahil wala silang trabaho, siyempre ‘yun ang hinaharap nila. So ito ang unti-unti na ngayong dumadami.

Tapos last August 24, Mr. President, sinabi ninyo sa Davao that itong problems natin, itong — itong challenge of ‘yung sinasabi nating psychosocial challenges, sinabi ninyo that we must be able to refer them to a particular entity or person where they can ask for deliverance. Sino kaya ang mabuti? Ang sabi ninyo and we are very touched and humbled by your statement, “Mabuti pa ang mga teachers. They have a stronger sense of responsibility because of their training sa kapwa tao.”

So dalawa ‘yung directives na ginawa ninyo specifically na-mention ninyo ang Department of Education. Una, ‘yung August 24 na nagsabi kayo that we should exert more efforts in strengthening ‘yung mental health ng ating mga youth. Not only the youth, but also our teachers.

Pangalawang directive na nakalap namin, when your national budget proposal was submitted last Tuesday to Congress, may mention din ang sa Department of Education including the name of the Secretary of Education na kailangan i-capacitate ang educators and teachers para tulungan ang mga bata at mga teachers for basic health literacy skills. Nandoon din ‘yun sa budget proposal ninyo kaya ire-report namin.

Now on the matter, Mr. President, of itong psychosocial problems which have emerged, so far sa mga bata, sa aming K-12 learners, isa ang kaso na talagang documented na makita natin na may relasyon sa COVID na sinasabing dahil sa COVID nag-suicide itong bata. Pero paniwala namin, Mr. President, na ang malaking challenge ngayon sa psychosocial conditions ng ating mga tao sa gobyerno, mga bata, mga teachers, ‘yung general mental health issues iyong anxiety, Mr. President. Hindi naman — hindi naman nagsu-suicide ang mga tao araw-araw pero ‘yung anxiety, ‘yung takot at saka ‘yung fears lumalabas kung minsan ‘yung mga behavior na usually not typical of Filipinos na nangangaway, mga relationships nasisira, mga bata lumalaban sa mga parents and so on. Kasama na ‘yung fear sa disease, fear sa walang trabaho, lahat-lahat na ito.

Ito ang mas malaking problema para sa amin dahil kung sa suicide, isa pa lang ang aming na-monitor at na-trace talaga namin, na-document. So ‘yung tinatawag natin, Mr. President, na mental resilience ang kailangan, ang challenge.

Ngayon nag-initiate kami, may program kami na Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Services. Talagang right from the beginning, mayroon na kaming programang ganito, Mr. President, na kailangan i-increase ang physical, ang mental health resilience ng ating mga learners, ng ating mga teachers, parents and citizen. Lahat natatakot, lahat anxious, at saka lumalabas ‘yung mga kung minsan hindi magagandang mga behavior.

Iyong — dahil sa order ninyo, sa inyong directive last August 24, naste-strengthen ‘yung efforts namin. So nag-partner kami with the Psychological Association of the Philippines dahil ang problema nito, Mr. President, hindi lamang sa learners, sa teachers din, sa staff, sa regional directors.

Kanina nga sinabi ko kanina sa aming press conference na sinasabi natin we are celebrating national heroes but I would nominate the person in government as a hero. Ang tao sa gobyerno trabaho nang trabaho, kinakantsawan, inaaway, binabastos, ina-accuse of corruption pero sige pa rin nang sige at walang nagagawa ang isang tao sa gobyerno na nagbigay ng katuwaan naman sa mga iilang mga sektor, parang wala kang magagawa to make people satisfied and it takes heroism to continue — to continue serving under such circumstances na talagang ma-wear down kayo.

So kasama namin ang Save the Children, ang UNICEF, Philippine Academy of Occupational Therapists, Humanity & Inclusion, and the NORFIL Foundation of the Philippines.

So insofar as may ‘yung sinasabi naming psychosocial issues are concerned, July pa kami nag-umpisa. Araw-araw we have programs kasi wala pa namang klase, naghahanda pa naman kami para sa opening ng classes. In the meantime, ‘yung psychosocial aspects, upscaling.

Dati, Mr. President, may guidance counselor pero ang guidance counselor para lang sa learners. Pero ang teacher kailangan din, ang regional director kailangan din, ang undersecretary kailangan din na mabigyan siya ng recognition oo na parang wala silang ginagawa kundi magnakaw, maabuso, they are inefficient, et cetera. And in the meantime, hindi sila kasama sa listahan ng heroes.

Kaya kanina sinabi ko kasama ang government person kasi ‘yung pagtitiis na talagang… Hindi naman siguro makaya nung mga nakaupo lang at saka nagbabantay ‘no.

Ang second directive ninyo, ang una ‘yung sinabi ninyo ‘yung mental health ‘no. Ang second na directive ninyo ‘yung lumabas sa budget, sa budget proposal ninyo na sinubmit (submit) last Tuesday na nag-mandate kayo sa Department of Education na i-enrich ang ating curriculum on health literacy naman, kabuuang health ‘no.

So ina-ano din namin, binabago natin ang ating health education curriculum kaya pinapasok natin ‘yung health literacy, binabago ang ating curriculum. At saka mayroon kaming programa and Secretary Duque is very familiar with this, ‘yung WASH? [Water], Sanitation and Hygiene program para magkaroon ng good hygiene practices.

Pero this is also connected to nutrition and also wellness, habits. Kaya ang Department of Education is also very active in an — the anti-smoking campaign. Noon pa ano talaga ang Department of Education sa anti-smoking at saka, of course, sa anti-drugs nandiyan ‘yan palagi.

So ‘yung curriculum binabago namin at saka ‘yung School-Based Feeding Program kasi ang School-Based Feeding Program natin ay naka-direct sa ‘yung tinatawag na wasted at saka mga undernourished.

Pero kung sana dadating ang panahon na lahat na bata matulungan natin kasi nagiging status issue ito. Ang mga bata na qualified silang pakainin sa wasted, et cetera, nahihiya sila kaya hindi sila kumakain kasi nakikita nila na ‘yung ibang bata masarap ang ulam, magandang tignan ‘yung kanilang mga baunan, et cetera, et cetera. So i-expand natin ito.

Ang sabi nga paano na ‘yung feeding program ninyo na wala namang klase? So we’re working with the ano — with the local governments.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Well, I — go ahead, but you — you’re doing a good job.

SEC. BRIONES: Thank you very much.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: My nanay also was one social thinker at the time. Ako ang na-social. [laughter] Ako ang nabaliktad naging social problem. I hope… My mother was also one of the advocates ‘yang ganoon, ‘yang iwanan ‘yang pamilya. She would always nag my father to come up with a program to intervene sa…

SEC. BRIONES: Usually ‘yung mga may problems na ganoon na, ‘yung ganoong klaseng behavior, mate-trace sa family relationships na iniwanan tapos ano mga — as I said ‘yung confusion about their identity at saka kung ano-anong itinuturo sa kanila…

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: This is not… This is not an indictment of the male specie dito. Pero itong p***** i***** Pilipino na ito, they — they just live together without benefit of a marriage, creating a family, maybe a family home.

Mga problema nitong mga unggoy na ito kasi because they do not have — they are not beholden, unless those who are really with the conscience kasi wala mang kasal, iniiwanan lang ang mga pamilya. Iyan ang gusto ko talagang patayin.

So I want to bring the DDS here pero mahalata eh. Iyan ang gusto kong patayin, napakawalang-hiya. Diyan ako galit sa mga ganoon. Sa totoo lang. Tapos mambugbog pa.

SEC. BRIONES: Oo.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: O, kaya ‘yan pagdating sa akin bugbog rin. Bugbog rin abutin sa akin.

SEC. BRIONES: At saka ‘yung violence sa family, isa din ‘yon sa causes ng dysfunctional behavior ‘yung — oo, kasi kung anong…

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Makita eh. He will do.

SEC. BRIONES: Oo nakita nila, gagawin nila, gagawin nila. So ‘yon lang, Mr. President, ‘yung dalawang bagay ‘yung ano — ‘yung mental health at saka ‘yung health literacy…

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Yes.

SEC. BRIONES: Naisama namin sa curriculum namin, isinasama namin.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Mental health is closer to my heart because my mother spent her lifetime unto it. So just give me the — memo-memo na lang tayo. Para kung madalian. To, from, ganoon na lang. Just to remind me.

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

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Para madalian dito. I’m more — my administration has always been more on sa tao. Sa tao ako, hindi ako sa ‘yung grandiose dito. Ang ano ko talaga is sa tao. Siguro I just learned it also from my father, ganoon ang ano niya eh.

So who — who’s next? Wala na? Señor Gierran, your time. What will you do with the corrupt officials of PhilHealth?

PHILHEALTH CHIEF DANTE GIERRAN: Good evening, sir…

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Go ahead ha, mag-ihi lang ako.

CHIEF GIERRAN: And of course, Senator Bong Go and the rest of — lady, lone lady, and the rest — of course the honorable gentlemen here, good evening sa ating lahat.

First, I have been hearing about — rather, I have been listening about hearings conducted by the two chambers in Congress: Senate and the House of Representatives. I was really aghast about the sorry state of PhilHealth. Corruption here and there.

The investigation is not yet over but Senate has indicated that they will render a report next week and there will be cases filed. The NBI is also investigating it. They know the gargantuan task of doing the job of the leader of PhilHealth but I don’t know why they pursue with it.

As a matter of fact, I was — I did not apply for the position because I know it’s very — it’s a very tough job. But you know as — just like a good soldier, just like General Galvez and of course Secretary of National Defense, I am also a good soldier.

I am one who would not back out from a mission and this is a mission. I know it’s a huge mission and I am consoled by the fact that this early, there are — there have been supports coming in.

First, the gentleman here, he was telling me, he will act as a consultant, pro bono. And then there is Senator Bong Go, who told me that he will support me. Sabi niya, “Dante, ‘Tol, gusto ko ibalik ang pera sa — ng taong bayan sa kanila. At ‘pag may naimbestigahan ka diyan at saka may mga loko-lolo diyan, putulin mo ‘yung kamay nila.”

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Ganoon magsalita ang NBI?

CHIEF GIERRAN: Hindi po, si Senator Bong Go po sir eh. So — and I have a lot of text messages here supporting me for the position, for the assigned task and all I have to do is to restore the trust and confidence of our people to PhilHealth.

Restoring the trust and confidence of our people to PhilHealth is equivalent to restoring the trust and confidence to our government, to the governance.

And Senator Bong Go was telling me, I have to strike a balance between improving the PhilHealth’s services to our people and addressing the perennial issues of deeply rooted corruption in the PhilHealth.

And for this, sir, Mr. President, I would say for the — for another thank you very much for giving me the privilege to serve our people. This is a privilege that is not given — that is not offered to everybody.

And this is an honor for me. Not only for me but the name of my parents who are already dead. And…

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Dante, kinuha kita, I called the three of you, iyong NBI na papalit sa iyo pati si Jagger. Si Jagger kasi tutal mapag-usapan lang naman natin, there were times that he relied more on than sa — relied more on people who were already old hands there. Eh ‘di napasok siya sa — sa bulsa.

Sinabi ko sa kanya straight, drug is still flowing inside the country sa Customs. Sabi ko, gusto ko sana sabihin kanina na, ‘di ba naghingi man ‘yan siya ng baril? Sabi ko, “I approved the purchase of firearms and until now wala ka napatay ni isa?” So sabi ko sa kanya, “shape up.”

In this when you are new, you are a babe in the forest and you begin to rely on people who would whisper that, “Sir, tutulungan ka namin dito.” And when they gain your confidence, he become to rely on what they say until you would believe that they are doing the right thing.

Kaya sabi ko sa kanya, sabi ko diretso “ang droga pumapasok pa rin.” Gusto ko pumatay ka diyan ng… Tutal back up-an kita, hindi ka makulong. Basta droga, barilin, patayin mo. Iyan ang usapan eh. Tsk.

Bagay, ikaw wala ka na. Iyong si pumalit sa iyo, si Distor, okay ‘yon?

CHIEF GIERRAN: He is doing right, sir.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Okay ha? Hindi corrupt?

CHIEF GIERRAN: Ay hindi po, sir.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Iyan lang. Go after corruption. Not you being the corrupt, the culprit.

Tulungan ninyo ako kasi kawawa ang — kawawa ang bayan. Naawa ako talaga sa bayan ko. Believe me, my heart bleeds for my country. Iyong unabated corruption and with no end in sight and another election coming up and you see the same old faces there. So the same old bata-bata kung sino iyong mga tao nila, wala. Patay.

Sabi ko nga iyong revolutionary government should not be discussed in sub rosa. It should be discussed publicly, including the military. They should be able to say what…

If the average — if the troops do not want it, they should say so and explain. Eh kung mayroon rin silang gustong pagbabago, then let us hear them out. Kasi walang end ang corruption, left and right talaga maski saan. Kaya iyong…

Ang problema ng PhilHealth, Dante, pagdating ng panahon, after so many years sa actuarial — sa actuarial study, there will be the year that wala ka nang maibigay doon sa mga beneficiaries kasi naubos na eh iyong reserba because of this corruption.

So you must send these guys to prison kasi problema iyan. The actuarial study shows that there will — at some point in time, wala nang maiwan kasi ibayad mo iyan sa mga beneficiaries eh.

Kaya sabihin mo ‘pag tawag mo, huwag ka na maraming daldal basta sabihin mo, “p***** i** kayo, magtrabaho kayo, l***** kayo.” Sabi ni — sabihin mo ni Mayor, “Yayariin ko kayo. Gusto niya yariin ko kayo.” Pati iyong diskumpiyado at ayaw, ibigay mo agad pangalan kasi ipa-assign ko dito.

Ulitin ko po, tapos na sabi ni Secretary Roque pero gusto kong ulitin. Iligan City, modified enhanced community quarantine; ang areas ng NCR, Bulacan, Batangas, Tacloban, Bacolod ay nasa general community quarantine. Ang the rest of the Philippines is under modified general community quarantine.

Ngayon, dito sa effect ng COVID sa pag-aaral ng ating mga anak, kailangan natin na tulungan lalo na — a Tertiary Education Subsidy for dependents of displaced non-returning repatriated or deceased OFWs due to COVID-19.

The education subsidy will be given to one college level beneficiary from a qualified OFW enrolled or is intending to enroll in state universities and colleges, local universities and colleges, and CHED- recognized private higher education institutions in this school year 2020.

Ang tulong po sa edukasyon sa mga anak niyo nito is a one-time grant of 30,000 pesos. The project will be allotted with the amount of one billion, which will benefit about 33,000 students from 33 OFW families.

This is a project of the Commission on Higher Education or CHED and the United Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education or UniFAST in collaboration with the Department of Labor and Employment. Ang mga details po nito kunin lang ninyo sa CHED, sa DOLE o sa OWWA.

Ang susi talaga sa paglaban sa COVID is iyon: ingat, ingat, ingat, maskara, mask, hugas pati iwas, distancing.

‘Pagka ganun, sige kayo. ‘Pag maganda, bahala ka na diyan, tabihan mo. [laughter] Pero ‘pag may asawa o ano, palayo ka para malayo sa disgrasya. Isali mo iyan ha kay maraming g*****… Tsk

Okay?

 

— END —

 

Source: PCOO-PND (Presidential News Desk)