With the different versions of guidelines rolled out by the COVID-19 Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) that led to confusion of public on how both the local and national government interpreted and implemented these, ACT-CIS Partylist Representative Niña Taduran sought for unified guidelines on addressing the alarming spread of the virus in the country.

The House Asst. Majority Leader said that the different guidelines of the local government units and the Departments of the National Government are confusing the people.

“It’s time for IATF to take the helm again and consolidate their guidelines and make a uniform announcement without any ambiguity or various interpretations,” the ACT-CIS Parrylist lawmaker pointed out.

One of the issues that Taduran wanted to be addressed is the use of a face shield.

Speaking to THEPHILBIZNEWS, Taduran said, “The Department of Transportation ordered for a mandatory face shield inside the public transportation. But this is contrary to what the  Department of Health said, that it is not a requirement but rather only being encouraged to the public as protection against the virus.”

The solon also called on the Department of Trade and Industry to control the prices of face shields, face masks and sanitizers.

“There are many people taking advantage of the pandemic, and this is very evident on the cost of face shield serged from 100- 200% increase after the DOTr announced that it is mandatory for commuters to wear a face shield. These vultures must be apprehended and held legally liable. This is already an added financial burden to the people if they buy the required face shields, and here are the unscrupulous individuals trying to profit from the pandemic.” Taduran concluded.

In the statement sent to the media, the Deputy House Majority Leader said the focus should be on how to resolve the growing cases of COVID19 case instead of pointing fingers.

“The doctors have made it clear that the “Time Out” they are asking for is not meant to defy the government not a call for revolution, rather a desperate call on the government to go back in the enhanced community quarantine instead of the lax General Community Quarantine given the record-breaking daily surge of COVID cases in the country,” Taduran said.

“And for me, I definitely understand the position of our medical professionals since as they are the first line of defense who handle the patients every day and risk their lives. How many healthcare workers have died since the time of the recorded case of COVID19 from a Mainland Chinese carrier in the Philippines?,” the ACT-CIS Partylist representative said.

“This is the reason why the dialogue is needed. Only then that the IATF would perhaps understand where are the Doctors and other healthcare workers are coming from. If the misunderstanding will drag on, the ultimate losers are the Filipino people, and this dialogue would pave way for cooperation, strategy formulation which they can draw from the perspective of the doctors. This is their war and the faster the dialogue will be the better,” Taduran added.

“Personally, I sympathize with the members of the medical community. They are crying out for help because the situation is truly alarming as the hospitals are already in the danger zone as early as mid-July, and they must contain the virus cases from rising given the volume of patients. The government especially the IATF must listen to them before it’s too late,” Taduran pointed out.

“Last week, I urged the DOH and the LGUs to do something about the unattended COVID patients in Metro Manila, because life is precious and we don’t have to fall into a trap of tug-of-war or deadlock,” Taduran added.

“I appeal to our Kababayan and our government to work together. Let us support and prayer for our healthcare workers, as many have died already. We do not want to come to a point that all our doctors, nurses and other people working in the hospital, to reach their breaking point and give up. We are fighting the virus, and we should not treat our fellow Filipinos as our adversaries. Not even in our thought. We want to heal as one, let us stop hurting each other by shutting others,” Taduran explained.

“Yes, the police, military and other essential workers have respective roles to play. Let them focus on their own domain. We can never win the virus if we do not listen to the point of view of the doctors. We are not fighting insurgents. Our enemies are invisible because no one sees the virus. So for me, with all due respect to the IATF, the best and the right people to deal with the virus are the medical experts. Listen to them, compare notes, and let them do their part as professionals in the medical field. Whatever support they need, let us give it to them, and the moment we think like one family, one country and one flag, only then we can heal as one,” Taduran concluded.

https://thephilbiznews.com/doh-lgus-urge-to-send-covid19-patients-in-nearby-hospitals-outside-metro-manila/

By Victoria “NIKE” De Dios

Seeing the optimized capacity of the hospitals in Metro Manila that could not accommodate any COVID patients anymore, ACT-CIS Partylist Representative and House Assistant Majority Leader Niña Taduran asked the Department of Health and the Local Government Units to act swiftly by expediting the transfer of COVID19 patients who are now in Metro Manila.

Speaking to THEPHILBIZNEWS, Congresswoman Taduran said, “At this point in time, we know that the hospitals in Metro Manila cannot accept COVID patients anymore. With the growing number of cases that are recorded every day,  this should not lead to unnecessary analysis-paralysis, but rather a decisive move from our Health authorities under the tutelage of Secretary Francisco Duque III. We cannot afford to be complacent because thousands of lives are at stake here.”

“Do we have to wait for the time when our situation is no longer controllable? Why do they always resort to firefighting management?”, a visibly irked Taduran said.

As early as mid-July, several hospitals in Metro Manila have already informed the public that they cannot accommodate such as St. Luke’s Medical Center, Makati Medical Center (MMC), Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital and even the government hospitals like National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) as they have reached the ‘danger zone’ in the usage of its “designated bed capacity for COVID-19 patients as early as July 13. Even St. Luke’s Medical Center (SLMC) said its COVID-19 intensive care unit (ICU) beds in both Quezon City and Global City branches are already filled.

“The DOH has the so-called One Hospital System and the Local Government Unit heads should start coordinating with the authorities,” Taduran explained.

“Through this system, all the hospitals and other medical facilities in Metro Manila can be unclogged of patients infected with the virus. They have to be proactive instead of waiting for the availability of the quarantine centers or hospitals to accommodate them. Right now, the most important is for these COVid patients to be given proper medical attention, not at home but in proper facilities. It’s not good if we will not think outside the box. This is a crisis and we need to act fast and prevent the crisis from causing further problems in the country,” Taduran added.

“If we insist on holding these patients in Metro Manila and wait for the available slots for them to be given the medical attention they need, then we are also jeopardizing the lives of our healthcare workers. We have lost many lives already and we cannot afford to risk them again by our inaction. That is the reason why I am making a distress call to explore all avenues that would address and abate the rising cases of COVID19 in the country,” Taduran noted.

“I have heard of severely ill patients waiting in the Emergency Room for days because COVID rooms or the ICU are full. Some are even forced to wait at home even if they need to be attended to in a hospital. Others who do not know anyone from the hospital are not even admitted in the emergency room,” Taduran added.

“I hope the DOH will do something about this in the soonest possible time before it is too late. That is to find more sources for medicines like Tocilizumab which hospitals are running out of. Also, the DOH should aggressively promote the drive for blood donation. We need to save lives and we can’t afford to take it sitting down,” the ACT-CIS Partylist Representative concluded.

ACT-CIS Partylist Representative Niña Taduran demands for full transparency on the cases involving suspected and confirmed COVID-19-related deaths of inmates at the New Bilibid Prisons.

The House Asst. Majority Leader says that a congressional inquiry should be called to investigate the deaths and if protocols were followed in relation to this.

Taduran says the Data Privacy Act should not be used as an excuse for not revealing relevant details of the 29 inmates who have been cremated at the Panteon de Dasmariñas in Cavite.

Speaking to THEPHILBIZNEWS, Congresswoman Taduran said, “All avenues must be explored in the interest of transparency. It is alarming that high-profile inmates have been dying allegedly due to COVID-19 since May and we have been kept in the dark until a newspaper reported Jaybee Sebastian’s death and cremation.”

“It is a matter of national interest that’s why we are calling for transparency. The concerned agencies must present fool-proof evidence regarding the death of a high profile inmate and others,” Taduran pointed out.

“This is not about personalities, this is about principle, and for the sake of the bereaved family of the inmates, we need to know everything and how it happened that fast,” Taduran noted.

“Is it not a basic duty of the Bureau of Correction Chief to inform the family on the onset when Jaybee Sebastian got COVID so that necessary medical intervention can be done right away?,” the ACT-CIS Partylist lawmaker pointed out.

“Then they will invoke the Data Privacy on this issue? This is preposterous and the use of the Data Privacy is totally out of line, What also bothers me is why the wife of Jaybee Sebastian was surprised at what happened? Hence, there is a need to step in and get the bottom of it. The public deserves to know the truth and public service is a public trust,” Taduran underscored being dubbed as Public Service Lady in the country.

“Needless to say, in this special case, witnesses should be called to be present at the cremation including a relative of the victim. There should be a protocol to prove the death of an inmate is real,” the House Assistant Majority Leader added.

“And the public uproar that is happening now is not even the fault of the people. You cannot blame them because these are drug inmates and their sudden death which is very mysterious, to say the least, dying at the same time would certainly cast doubt to any people who are thinking. This is too much of a coincidence,” Taduran concluded.

The solon also asked for an efficient process of rechecking information with regard to the Covid-19 related deaths in New Bilibid Prison.