Go backs easing health protocols to spur economy

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Bong Go is supporting proposals to further ease health protocols to speed up the country’s economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic even as he emphasized the need to keep protecting Filipinos from health risks.

Go, who chairs the Senate committee on health, said that the easing of health regulations may attract more investors, which in turn may help create jobs and other sources of income for Filipinos, particularly those who have been most severely affected by the pandemic.

“I agree with such proposals as long as our authorities, our health officials can control it, that (COVID-19) cases will not rise,” Go said in Filipino during an interview after aiding some distressed residents in San Juan City on Monday.

“What’s important now is we have more (economic activities)… tourists, investors to come into the country because we need them for our economic recovery,” he said.

He said millions have lost their jobs and more investments can address unemployment in the country.

Go also urged Filipinos to remain vigilant by still wearing masks whenever possible amid the rising cases of COVID-19.

He asked the Department of Health (DOH) and local government units (LGUs) to ensure that the vaccines and booster shots reach remote areas so that more Filipinos are protected from COVID-19.

He said LGUs should mobilize their health workers to bring the vaccines to remote areas to increase the vaccination rate.

Go reiterated his plea for the government to continue providing incentives to those who have obtained complete vaccine and booster doses.

He also cited the need to appoint a permanent health secretary even as he expressed satisfaction with the performance of DOH officer-in-charge Dr. Maria Rosario Vergeire.

To ensure the country is better prepared for future pandemics, Go refiled in the Senate his twin bills, Senate Bills 195 and 196, which would create the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the Virology Science and Technology Institute of the Philippines, respectively.