KC Concepcion is asking the government to level-up their efforts in dealing with the COVID-19 crisis.
In a series of tweets, KC seemed already frustrated also with how the government is handling the whole COVID-19 crisis.
In her first tweet, she shared an article about Senator Lacson’s comment on the lack of sense of urgency from the DOH and FDA.
Lacson is urging the government to level-up their sense of urgency in order for the country to quickly flatten the curve.
“As of last Monday, [March 23], when we were deliberating on the just-signed Bayanihan To Heal As One Act, we tested only 1,500 Filipinos, more or less. With a population of 107 million, the worst is yet to come unless DOH and FDA act with urgency,” said Lacson.
https://t.co/hget99qLB9 PH GOVERNMENT we need to level up our SENSE OF URGENCY now more than ever.
— KC ~ also, Kristina. (@kristina) March 26, 2020
KC followed by quoting Lacson about the frustrating bureaucracy at customs that was causing the delay in the distribution of testing kits from other countries like South Korea and China.
Lacson suggested that the government should have “more flexibility” from DOH, as donated test kits are sitting at the Bureau of Customs due to the slow bureaucratic processes.
“Donated test kits sitting at the Bureau of Customs due to the slow bureaucratic processes: "Hundreds of thousands of rapid test kits for donation by local businessmen & procured from South Korea/China have arrived over a week ago yet a big volume is being held by Customs. Why?"
— KC ~ also, Kristina. (@kristina) March 26, 2020
Currently, the country is battling COVID-19 with lack of “battle gear” for the front liners causing their early demise.
As of this writing, there were already 9 doctors who died from the disease due to exposure to the virus in line of their duty. And thousands have been quarantined from different hospitals in the country, making it harder for the already burdened medical facilities
Meanwhile, in continuation of her tweet series, KC questioned the government’s lack of money to procure medical equipment saying if possible government officials should shell out from their own pocket to support the battle against the crisis.
I’ve been told that the nation has no money to buy support medical equipment, ICU beds, respirators, to create new makeshift medical centers. DO U REALLY BELIEVE THAT?? If they can’t get it from the nation’s budget, will our leaders then care to maybe support from out of pocket?
— KC ~ also, Kristina. (@kristina) March 26, 2020
We need solutions – new medically equipped spaces not just quarantine tents – so that NO FILIPINO IS TURNED AWAY! In South Korea it was illegal to turn patients away regardless of severity of their illness! How can we turn people away & not feel the need to address that problem
— KC ~ also, Kristina. (@kristina) March 26, 2020
If we lack medical staff, health care workers, we can always ask our alliances for support in workforce- but we need to already prepare the centers with beds, ICU equipment, respirators and of course toilets before we can accommodate medical staff! What are we waiting for?
— KC ~ also, Kristina. (@kristina) March 26, 2020
I am not a politician, there is a reason behind this, however as a Filipino citizen who’s always given our gov the benefit of the doubt NOW IS THE TIME TO SEE BIGGER & BETTER SOLUTIONS. There’s no other time! Don’t make me another one who has lost faith in our gov OR OUR NATION.
— KC ~ also, Kristina. (@kristina) March 26, 2020
Our mortality rate is high-can we begin to recognize that? How can it not be when the problem is Filipinos r not getting health care, Filipinos r turned away at hospitals & no alternative centers are being prepared to treat ppl in? Do we expect the virus to magically disappear?
— KC ~ also, Kristina. (@kristina) March 26, 2020
Politicians might find it useful to stop blaming each other and just take personal initiative and mobilize their own people and find solutions with their own resources- if they need to do it on their own, why not?
— KC ~ also, Kristina. (@kristina) March 26, 2020
How do we get these test kits outside of customs? How do we accommodate so many donations and deliveries of PPEs, respirators, ICU beds, equipment if we can’t even get them out of the ports?
— KC ~ also, Kristina. (@kristina) March 26, 2020
In the end, she said as a Filipino citizen who cares for the country, she cannot keep her silence. She added she’s worried about her life too like many others and hopes the government will step up to provide the much-needed support for better health care, especially at this time.
To speak up as a Filipina who cares about her nation, I feel I can’t keep silent for long. I worry for my own life too and just know that the nation has money and also the heart to step up now and provide much better health care especially at a time like this.
— KC ~ also, Kristina. (@kristina) March 26, 2020
