Bong Go cites need to ramp up health research capabilities in the country to eventually develop own vaccines; says MGCQ in Metro Manila 'highly unlikely' at this time

Citing the possibility of new pandemics emerging in the future, Senator Christopher "Bong" Go said that it is high time for the country to strengthen further its medical science and health research capabilities to prepare for other health crises and eventually develop its own vaccines and other medical interventions.

"Novel coronavirus, bago, 'di natin alam kung meron pang darating na ganitong klaseng mga sakit na galing po sa wildlife. Dapat handa tayo," he said in an interview after personally leading the distribution of assistance to fire victims in Malate, Manila on Friday, March 12.

"Napapanahon na siguro na magkaroon tayo ng sariling manufacturing (ng bakuna). Kung kaya naman natin para 'di na tayo magmakaawa sa ibang bansa," he added.

In his State of the Nation Address in July last year, President Rodrigo Duterte asked Congress to pass a measure creating the country's own center for disease control and prevention. Earlier this month, the House of Representatives approved on the committee level House Bill No. 6096 which establishes said agency.

In his earlier statements, Go also emphasized the need to provide enough funding for the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine given its crucial role in addressing the pandemic.

"Hindi natin akalain na ang RITM ay ang isa sa pinaka-importanteng opisina dito sa pandemyang ito... I pushed for the increase of RITM's proposed 2020 budget. We made the right decision, and with the support of my colleagues, we increased the budget of RITM to PhP223.8 million. For 2021, we further increased the budget of RITM to PhP393.8 million," Go previously said.

"Ano na lang kaya po kung hindi natin na-increase ang budget ng RITM? Mas lalo tayong mabibigla dahil RITM ang unang nagkaroon ng kapasidad to test," he added.

Meanwhile, Go said that putting Metro Manila under the less restrictive modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) is highly unlikely at the moment given the rising number of new cases in the National Capital Region.

"Plano sana ni Pangulong (Rodrigo) Duterte na luwagan (ang level ng community quarantine). Since kaka-start pa lang ng pagbabakuna, kinakailangan pa nating mapaigting ang ating pag-iingat laban sa COVID-19, lalo na ngayon dahil sa pagtataas ng bilang ng mga kaso. Hindi pa natin siguro maluwagan ang quarantine restrictions ngayon dahil delikado pa po. Gawin po muna natin ang kinakailangan para hindi tayo magkahawahan," Go said.

Go said that the government needs to review its health and safety guidelines on a daily basis due to rising cases. But once the number of daily new cases and other indicators begin to decline, Go mentioned that the government could consider relaxing restrictions.

"Pinag-aaralan 'yung sinasabi na babaan ang edad. Sabi ko, napakahirap sa ngayon, araw-araw po kailangan pag-aralan. Araw-araw, umaangat, sabay tayong nagbabakuna pero tumataas," he said.

"Kung nagbabakuna tayo at bumababa, maaari unti-unting luwagan. Pero sa ngayon, hindi pa po, granular na po at selected lang muna, by barangay or by city po ang pagluluwag ng mga restrictions," he added.

The country may also not go back to the restrictive enhanced community quarantine, according to Go, as it could be detrimental to the economy.

"'Di naman pwede totally ibalik sa ECQ dahil hirap ang ekonomiya. Pinag-aaralan na po ng gobyerno sa mga susunod na araw magbibigay po ng rekomendasyon ang IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases)," he said.

"Palagi po nating binabalanse ang ekonomiya at ang kalusugan at kapakanan ng ating mga kababayan," Go assured.

Amid the current public health concerns, Go said that he will continue to serve Filipinos as best as he can.

"'Di po ako natatakot mamatay at kung sakali mang umabot ang puntong 'yan, karangalan ko po na mamatay na nagseserbisyo po sa kapwa ko Pilipino. 'Yun ang isang malaking karangalan ko bilang opisyal ng gobyerno," said Go.

"Hindi ko po matiiis na nakaupo lang sa aking opisina at nagpapalamig habang ang mga kababayan natin, naghihirap at naghihintay ng tulong sa gobyerno so tutulong po ako at 'di po ako titigil noon pa man hanggang ngayon, hanggang sa huling araw po ng aking termino, 'di po ako titigil sa pagseserbisyo," he ended.