’Eyes on the surge’: VP Leni presses for a timeout on politicking amid ECQ, COVID woes

MANILA – (August 11, 2021) – Vice President Leni Robredo on Wednesday called for a “timeout”—this time on politicking in the middle of the continuing rise of COVID cases and concerns in the middle of the Enhanced Community Quarantine in different parts of the country.

VP Leni reiterated that the crisis requires an all-hands-on-deck approach, setting aside political leanings in order to address the needs of the people.

“Sa panahong ito, wala tayong mapapala sa parinigan at bangayan. Puno ang ospital, ang daming nagkakasakit, ang dami uling nagigipit dahil di makapagtrabaho. Hindi magagamot ng awayan ang COVID patients. Hindi ‘yan ang susi para maging mas efficient ang pagbibigay ng ayuda, bakuna, at iba pang tulong sa ating mga kababayan,” she said.

This as Malacañang justified President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to strip an unnamed “disorganized” local government unit (LGU) in Metro Manila of the right to distribute cash aid, saying the Departments of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) should take over. In the same address, the President also went off against a certain mayor for having a “disorganized mind” and a “lewd” personal past.

“Kung itutuon natin ang lakas natin sa pagtutulungan kaysa sa bangayan, mas marami tayong magagawa,” VP Leni said. “‘Yong oras at energies na ginugugol sa pasaring at panlalait, magiging mas productive ‘yan kung itulong halimbawa sa Bayanihan E-Konsulta o sa iba pang COVID-related initiatives.”

“All-in dapat tayo sa pagtugon sa krisis na ito. All eyes on the surge. Saka na kayo mag-ungkatan ng past,” she added.

Despite her office’s limited resources, VP Leni has been leading comprehensive COVID response operations—one made possible by the collaboration and generosity of private sector partners and ordinary Filipinos. Initiatives that the OVP has launched over the past year and a half include different forms of assistance for frontliners and health institutions, local government units and communities, students, and those in need of jobs and livelihood.

Among OVP’s initiatives are Bayanihan E-Konsulta, a teleconsultation platform that assists in outpatient cases and even in emergency situations, and Vaccine Express, where the office provides logistics support for LGUs vaccination efforts. ###