THE House Defeat COVID-19 Ad Hoc Committee (DCC) co-chaired by House Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez has endorsed the plenary adoption of a resolution expressing the highest appreciation and profound gratitude of the House of Representatives to all Filipino healthcare workers and other frontliners in the fight against the coronavirus disease-19 (COVID) pandemic.
Romualdez, who co-chaired the DCC with Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, took note of the courageous and unselfish services rendered by medical workers and other frontliners such as garbage collectors, delivery services, banks, media, grocery and factory workers in battling COVID-19.
Under House Committee Report No. 412, Romualdez would move for the adoption of House Resolution (HR) No. 1132, which is a consolidation of seven House Resolution Nos. 878, 836, 843, 893, 894, 895, and 932 that chairpersons Rep. Angelina “Helen” Tan (Quezon) and Rep. Janette Garin (Iloilo) of the Health and COVID-19 Response Sub-Committee transmitted to DCC.
“They have remained committed to their mandate. They are our heroes for spearheading the fight against the COVID-19,” Romualdez said in seeking the plenary adoption of HR No. 1132.
“We need to act fast as time is not on our side. I enjoin our fellow House members to support all legislative measures aimed at empowering our people and our nation in the fight against COVID-19. Now more than ever, we need to be united in this war against an invisible yet vicious enemy. With arms linked, we will win as one,” said Romualdez, both president of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) and Philippine Constitution Association (Philconsa).
The resolution aims to pay tribute to the countless and nameless brave and selfless individuals who have valiantly respond to the call of duty to save lives and spare the nation from the devastation of COVID-19.
“Doctors, nurses, medical technologists, barangay health workers, and allowed health professionals and workers serving in private and public hospitals and facilities, as well as in communities, within and outside of the Philippines, have placed their own lives in peril,” read the two-page resolution.
“Members of the military, police force; national and local government frontline officials and employees; media personnel; civil society organizations; factory workers; garbage collectors, as well as those manning the airports, groceries, banks, food establishments, and delivery services, among other essential service providers, courageously stand in the frontlines of the county’s war against COVID-19,” it added.
Ako Bisaya party-list Rep. Sonny Lagon, a friend of Lakas-CMD, extolled the courage and unselfish services being rendered by healthcare workers and other frontliners to the nation and across the globe in the fight against COVID-19.
Amid the lingering sufferings and despair of the people, and notwithstanding the ominous dangers that the rapidly spreading COVID-19 virus poses upon them and their families, Lagon said “countless and nameless brave and selfless individuals have valiantly responded to the call of duty to save lives and spare the nation from the devastation of COVID-19.”
“We commend the medical practitioners and other essential workers in the country for their invaluable contribution in the time of COVID-19,” said Lagon. “The House of Representatives recognizes the heroism of those who have sacrificed their lives to save the sick and afflicted, watched over the populace, and provided essential services to the people above and beyond the call of duty.”
“Thanks to all the heroic services and valiant efforts of our healthcare workers and other essential workers. The commitment, bravery, sacrifice and hard work you have been showing have saved many lives,” said Lagon who took note that doctors, nurses, medical technologists, barangay health workers and allied health professionals and workers serving in private and public hospitals and facilities, as well as in communities, within and outside of the Philippines, have placed their own lives in peril.
Last March 8, 2020, President Rodrigo “Rody” Duterte issued Proclamation No. 922 declaring a state of public health emergency thoughout the country due to coronavirus disease outbreak. Eight days after such declaration , the Chief Executive issued Proclamation No. 929, declaring a state of calamity all over the Philippines, imposing enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in the entire island of Luzon.
Pursuant to Republic Act No. 11469 or the Bayanihan to Heal As One Act, HR 1132 said President Duterte subsequently imposed enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) measures in high-risk areas and general community quarantine areas (GCQ) measures in low-risk and medium-risk areas in the Visayas and MIndanao islands upon the recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease (IATF-EID).
The resolution also welcomed the issuance of Proclamation No. 976, declaring the year 2020 as the “Year of Filipino Health Workers” and the World Health Organization’s declaration of 2020 as the “international Year of the Nurse and Midwife” in recognition of their vital role in achieving sustainable development goals and universal health care.
Other authors of resolution include Tan, Reps. Robert Ace S. Barbers, Wilter “Sharky” Wee Palma II, Ron P. Salo, Rose Marie “Baby” J. Arenas, Aleta C. Suarez, John Marvin “Yul Servo” C. Nieto, Janette L. Garin, M.D., Angelo Marcos Barba, Marlyn “Len” B. Alonte, Erico Aristotle C. Aumentado, Kristine Alexie B. Tutor, Ruth Mariano- Hernandez, Resurreccion Acop, Faustino “Inno” A. Dy V, Cheryl P. Deloso-Montalla, Ciriaco B. Gato Jr., Victor A. Yap, Dahlia A. Loyola, Ma. Bernardita “Ditas” B. Ramos, John Reynald M. Tiangco, Diego “Nonoy” C. Ty, Micaela S. Violago, Estrellita B. Suansing, Princess Rihan M. Sakaluran, Adriano A. Ebcas, Alberto “Bobby” D. Pacquiao, Hector S. Sanchez, Shirlyn Bañas-Nograles, Francisco G. Datol Jr., Divina Grace C. Yu, Teodorico T. Haresco Jr., Stella Luz A. Quimbo, Angelica Natasha-Co, Irene Gay F. Saulog, Sarah Jane I. Elago, Deogracias Victor “DV” B. Savellano, and Anthony Peter “Onyx” D. Crisologo.
