MANILA, Philippines — Presidential bets bared their respective plans for a possible new COVID-19 surge in the country during the 2022 PiliPinas Debates of the Commission on Elections (Comelec)
During the debate, Vice President Leni Robredo said that since a COVID-19 surge in the country is a possibility, the government must focus on ramping up vaccinations — especially as the country has not reached the 77 million target for herd immunity.
Former Defense secretary Norberto Gonzales agreed with Robredo on the ramp-up vaccination, as he questioned the plan to donate vaccines when a large portion of the population remains unvaccinated. Gonzales was referring to reports on March 9 that the Philippines will be donating COVID-19 vaccines to vaccine-short countries as some of these are already nearing expiry dates.Other candidates on the other hand pushed for long-term plans, like preparing for the next pandemic, with Senator Panfilo Lacson stressing the need to establish a virology institute.
Labor leader Leody de Guzman meanwhile said that should a new COVID-19 surge happens, the national government has to be responsible. Manila Mayor Isko Moreno on the other hand said that he will look at available funds under the Bayanihan 1 and Bayanihan 2 laws, and use these to buy more equipment and medicines.