Cabinet members to act as ‘big brother’ to mayors

MANILA, Philippines — Cabinet secretaries will be acting as a “big brother” to local officials to aggressively pursue the government’s National Action Plan against COVID-19, particularly in high-risk areas in Metro Manila and four adjacent provinces, Malacañang said yesterday.

National Task Force against COVID-19 chief implementer Carlito Galvez said the move was aimed to plug any gap in the communication of policies and its implementation on the ground.

“They are more knowledgeable on our economy, they can guide our LGUs (local government units) like a big brother or sister to our mayors,” Galvez added.

Galvez likened the strategy to the fight against insurgency through the  reation of the Cabinet Officer for Regional Development and Security or CORRDS.

With the decision of the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) to designate Cabinet secretaries to assist LGUs, presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. was quick to say that local officials have been doing their jobs well.

“Wala pong problema ang ating mga  local na pamahalaan, pero naiintidihan po natin na as we enter the second phase of our National Action Plan,  mas matindi na po ang involvement ng mga local na pamahalaan,” he said.

The move was aimed to streamline the delivery of services and provide support the local government units, Roque added.

As designated Cabinet member for Pasay, Roque said he would deem it necessary to look into the conditions of the Pasay City General Hospital, as well as the status for accreditation of its testing center and the construction of quarantine areas.

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian warned the administration yesterday that assigning Cabinet officials to certain localities in an effort to address COVID-19 could only mean another bureaucratic level that could delay government response.

Gatchalian said he would prefer for the local officials to coordinate with the IATF and NTF chief implementer Galvez for their concerns about COVID-19.

“I would prefer for LGUs to go directly with Gen. Galvez who could issue instructions to help certain LGUs,” Gatchalian told Senate reporters during a press conference via Zoom.

Gatchalian also refused to support the call of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) for an additional P5 billion to fund the hiring of contact tracers. Instead, he said the government should use technology in tracing people who had close contact with individuals found positive with COVID-19.

“Let us use technology in our contact tracing. Other countries are using smart phones. Instead of manual, we can try using standard technology for contact tracing,” he added.

Roque said the IATF recognizes the need to intensify its operational capacity.

Asked if the Cabinet secretaries may overrule local officials, Roque said only President Duterte will have authority over the local mayors.

Back to the Malacañang Press Briefing Room after a temporary lockdown, Roque and Galvez underscored anew the need to weigh the consequences of  easing quarantine restrictions and reopening the economy.

In appointing the Cabinet secretaries, Galvez said the IATF deemed it necessary to harmonize efforts of the national government with the end view of the need to balance health and economy.

“Talagang nakita natin na pataas ng pataas ang kaso,” Galvez said, noting there is a need for the IATF to work to the level of the people to implement massive changes to lower the number of COVID-19 cases.

Last Wednesday, the IATF approved Resolution 62, which designated Cabinet secretaries to high-risk areas in Metro Manila and nearby provinces under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ).

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra is assigned to supervise Bulacan, Defense Secretary Lorenzana was designated for Cavite, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar for Laguna and Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi for Rizal.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III is assigned to oversee COVID-related operations in Quezon City, Education Secretary Leonor Briones and Tourism Secretary Bernadette Puyat for Pasig, Metro Manila Development Authority chairman Danilo Lim for Pateros, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III for Marikina, Commission on Higher Education chairman Prospero de Vera for Malabon, Interior Secretary Eduaro Año and Secretary Vince Dizon for Taguig, Information and Communication Technology Secretary Gregorio Honasan and Director General Jeremiah Belgica for Manila, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez for Mandaluyong, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon for Makati, acting NEDA chief Karl Kendrick Chua for San Juan, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade for Muntinlupa, Galvez for Parañaque, Public Works Secretary Mark Villar for Las Piñas, Roque for Pasay, Agriculture Secretary William Dar for Caloocan, Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado for Navotas and Science Secretary Fortunato dela Peña for Valenzuela.

Metro Manila and the four neighboring provinces account for 67 percent of the country’s economic output, according to economic managers who have been pushing for the easing of quarantine restrictions to stimulate the economy.

Duterte hinted on Monday that the country cannot afford to maintain MECQ because of its impact on the economy.

The IATF said the Cabinet members are assigned to provide stronger support to local government units with areas identified with high community transmission, inasmuch as to strictly monitor health system performance, critical care capacity, and stringent compliance to surveillance, isolation and treatment protocols.

The IATF also approved the resumption of part 2 of the testing activities for the qualifying assessment for the Foreign Medical Professionals, tentatively set on Sept. 19 this year by the Professional Regulation Commission.

The body also approved the recommendation of the Department of Agriculture to issue a memorandum with the Department of Interior and Local Government to guide and advise the local government units in the establishment of LGU-led local rice task force. – Cecille Suerte Felipe