President Duterte has bragged that we have enough funds to meet the threat of COVID-19. Congress has recently passed a law giving him access to more funds. There is no more valid reason to delay mass testing which, as the World Health Organization pointed out and as South Korea has proven, is the most effective way to save lives and break the chains of transmission.
We appeal to our officials at the Department of Health (DOH) who have the competence to issue the directive for mass testing to forthwith do so and without further delay, demanding from this government that funds be immediately released for said purpose and not leave the fate of this nation to a President who, in his utter dereliction of duty, has allowed this health crisis to worsen. It has now claimed the lives of a number of our very doctors and health care professionals who are in the forefront of this fight.
We cannot just continue to hide in our homes like frightened rats. The DOH must forthwith launch extensive search and destroy operations against this deadly disease through mass testing. When will this government act? When huge numbers of our people are already dying?
SEVERO BRILLANTES
brillanteslaw@gmail.com