Palace says PH not starting from scratch in COVID-19 response

Malacañang stated that the Philippines is not starting from scratch in its COVID-19 response despite a surge in cases on the first anniversary of the lockdown.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque highlighted improvements in healthcare facilities, including increased critical and ward bed capacities.

Roque's statement came after senators criticized the administration's pandemic management, citing the continued rise in COVID-19 infections.

He argued that the country would be in a worse situation without the efforts of the Inter-Agency Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID).

Despite acknowledging room for improvement, Roque maintained that the government had done its best under the circumstances.

The country recorded 5,414 new COVID-19 cases on March 15, marking one of the highest daily increases since the pandemic began.