Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson plans to scrap lockdowns as a strategy in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic if he wins the top executive post.
Lacson said that while the Philippines has had the world’s longest lockdown, it has not prevented the spread of COVID, much less helped the country recover from its ill-effects.
“We are toying with the idea that after June 30, 2022, we won’t have a lockdown anymore because the lockdown approach is not working. There could be a better approach,” he said at the recent Pandesal Forum.
Lacson believes that all anti-COVID-19-related policy decisions must be based on science and technology and should be data-driven.
He added that strategies should not be on a trial-and-error approach.
“As we go on, we adopt methods that work and reconsider those that don’t. If we cannot be flexible, if we fail to adapt, nothing good will happen to us,” he said.
Lacson said effort must be poured into the more efficient rollout of vaccines, capacitating government hospitals, and the judicious use of public funds.
He cites the use the off-budget “income” of government hospitals to defray the hospitalization expenses of Filipinos confined there.
Lacson cited Nikkei Asia’s COVID-19 Recovery Index listing the Philippines as last in infection control, vaccination, and mobility, ranking it dead last among 121 countries.
The situation is further worsened by corruption and inefficiency in the purchase of COVID-related supplies.
“We are punishing the economy with health efforts that do not work,” he said.
