Chiz: Ph Needs Comprehensive Pandemic, All-Hazard Preparedness Plan
Senatorial candidate and Sorsogon Gov. Chiz Escudero said he will push for the legislation of a comprehensive pandemic and all-hazard preparedness plan in order to build the capacity and capability of the government in handling emergencies like the ongoing COVID-19 public health crisis.
According to Escudero, his proposal would echo the measure put forward by the late Sen. Mirriam Defensor-Santiago eight years ago in the Senate, in anticipation of any pandemic outbreak and full spectrum of disasters or emergencies.
“Alam n’yo, mahigit walong taon nang lumilipas, naghain ng panukalang batas si Senator Miriam Santiago na nagbibigay sana ng sapat na kahandaan para sa ating bansa kaugnay ng mga pandemya tulad nito,” Escudero said over the weekend at a radio interview.
“Pero kung naisabatas sana ‘yun, magbibigay ito ng kahandaan sa bansa natin na harapin anumang uri, kapareho man o kakaiba, na pandemya tulad ng COVID-19,” he added, referring to the late senator’s proposal which was logged as Senate Bill No. 1573 during the 16th Congress.
Filed in 2013 by Santiago, the proposal called for the capacity building and strengthening of the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) and the surveillance disease section of the Department of Health (DOH).
It also sought the establishment of the National Health Strategy for Public Health Emergencies, Task Force on Public Emergencies which will be in charge in handling the country’s response and program against any pandemic.
“Kailangan natin ang batas na iyan nang sa gayun ay maging handa tayo at mauna tayo pagdating sa kaalaman at paghahanda kung may darating man na susunod pa na pandemya,” Escudero pointed out. #
