Sotto: Congress has given all the resources to Malacanang as country is now in critical risk classification

Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III on Monday, January 11 said all the resources available have been given by Congress to the Executive Department, particularly the Department of Health (DOH), to contain COVID-19 infections.

‘’It’s an issue of competence that they have to resolve,’’ Sotto said after the DOH stated that the Philippines is now in a critical risk classification.

The country’s reported 33,169 cases of COVID-19 last January 10.

In a related development, opposition Senator Francis ‘’Kiko’’ N. Pangilinan revealed today that his latest RT-PCR test result is negative.

‘’Sharon, the kids & househelp also negative! My Dr. sister says my prior result was a false positive as none of us have symptoms. We need FREE testing for ALL who need it so we are ALL better prepared to manage Covid. Thank u for ur prayers!,’’ Panglinan said in his Twitter account.

There are at present two senators who were recently COVID-19 infected.

They are Senators Panfilo M. Lacson and Sherwin T. Gatchalian.

As this developed, opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros said that the DOH should focus in unreported COVID-19 cases instead of limiting peoples’ movements because of the Omicron variant.

Aside from cases not checked by contract tracers, there are many who self-administer Antigen tests and home isolation when tested positive, she said.

‘’Kailangan natin silang masuportahan habang nagpapagaling sa kanilang mga tahanan (There is a need to supporr them at their homes),’’ she added.

’Inuudyokan ko ang DOH na palakasin pa ang kanilang telemedecine capacity, pati na rin ang information campaign ukol sa home care ng mga pasyenteng may COVID (I ask the DOH to strengthen its telemedicine, including information campaign on home care or patients with COVID),’’ she added.

Hontiveros also pleaded with the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) to increase its RT-PCR tests to 150,000 a day.

The lady legislator also said there is a pressing need for free testing for high-risk individuals and vulnerable sectors, particularly the senior citizens.