Robredo calls for transparency in COVID-19 handling

Vice President Leni Robredo urged the Philippine government to be more transparent in its handling of the COVID-19 outbreak to dispel public panic and speculations such as alleged underreporting of cases.

She emphasized that transparency raises public trust in the government and helps the public better protect themselves from the virus.

Robredo noted that transparency helped countries like Taiwan contain the spread of the virus.

Her comment comes in light of Senator Panfilo Lacson's earlier warning that the Department of Health (DOH) could be underreporting cases due to a lack of test kits.

She stated that the government should have acted more swiftly in declaring a state of public health emergency, as recommended by Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on February 21.

The Vice President believes the government should have promptly released guidelines as soon as the first local transmission was confirmed.

She also lamented the pacing of President Rodrigo Duterte's declaration of a public health emergency, with the executive order expected to be released on Monday.