Department of Health (DOH) officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has not given any concrete response about the DOH’s proposal to extend the state of calamity in the Philippines due to Covid-19.
Vergeire also noted that Marcos earlier showed his uncertainty to extend the state of calamity, which ended on December 31, 2022.
“No categorical and no official response to this request for the extension of the state of calamity. But indirectly, the President already has verbalized in one of his media outings that he is very hesitant to extend the state of calamity,” Vergeire said during a media forum.
The health OIC revealed before the year 2022 ended that the DOH had sent a memorandum to Malacañang, proposing the extension of the state of calamity in the country.
“Tayo naman ay sinagot sa isang meeting na ginawa that was held last December 23 kung saan pinadala ang mga officials ng Office of the President. We sat down with other agencies, together with the DOH. We discussed the implications and options that the government can take if and when the state of calamity will not be extended,” she said.
— Ronald Espartinez