Peace adviser assures public on COVID-19 response

Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez Jr. assured the public that the government is taking all necessary measures to address and mitigate the impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the country.

Galvez, designated by President Duterte as the chief implementer of the Philippines' national policy against COVID-19, emphasized that the pandemic is not only a health crisis but also an economic, social, and security crisis intertwined together.

The National Action Plan (NAP) on COVID-19 aims to respond to the health crisis by integrating the government's logistical network, resources, and manpower to mitigate the social, economic, and security impacts of the virus.

Galvez stressed the importance of cooperation and integration among lead and supporting agencies and the people to effectively combat the disease and defeat it.

The NAP focuses on four specific lines of effort: enhanced community quarantine, enhanced monitoring and response, responsive sustainment, and crisis communication.

President Duterte serves as the National Command Authority, with the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases under him, and the National Task Force (NTF) on COVID-19, chaired by Defense Secretary Delfin, operationalizing the IATF's policies.

Galvez is responsible for the operational and tactical implementation of the IATF guidelines and overseeing the daily activities of all agencies involved in addressing COVID-19.

Galvez called on Filipinos to support the government's efforts, expressing confidence that the country will overcome the crisis with full cooperation from the public.