VP Leni counters Duterte on COVID-19 response, calls for proactive measures

Vice President Leni Robredo countered President Rodrigo Duterte's statements on the COVID-19 pandemic response, arguing that simply having hospitals, beds, and funeral parlors is insufficient and that waiting for a vaccine is not the only solution.

Robredo emphasized the need for proactive measures beyond just waiting for a vaccine, highlighting that the pandemic requires a comprehensive approach.

She outlined four key areas that need to be addressed: suppressing the spread of the virus through medical and non-medical interventions, managing the humanitarian crises arising from the pandemic like poverty and unemployment, restructuring finances affected by the crisis, and rebuilding the economy in an inclusive and sustainable manner.

Robredo specifically criticized the idea that the pandemic can be solved through simplistic measures, likening it to spraying pesticide from an airplane to solve problems in Manila.