Press Release - Statement of Sen. Bong Go:

Since the lifting of the State of Public Health Emergency due to COVID-19, government policy remains the same regarding the wearing of face masks. It is still voluntary except in healthcare facilities, among other few places and situations.

But with the 36% increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in the country and the rising cases of influenza-like illnesses, as chair of the Senate Health Committee, I urge everyone, especially high-risk individuals and those with comorbidities, to voluntarily wear face masks as much as possible.

In fact, the Philippine General Hospital recently announced that it is requiring everyone in its vicinity to wear face masks.

Kung hindi naman sagabal, kahit na ikaw ay may malusog na pangangatawan, magsuot tayo ng mask upang maiwasan nating magkasakit, hindi lang ng COVID-19 kundi ng iba pang nakakahawang respiratory diseases. Hindi lang naman ito proteksyon sa ating sarili kundi para na rin sa mga kasama natin sa bahay na mga matatanda, may sakit at mga vulnerable.

Mahigit dalawang taon naman tayong naging disiplinado sa pagsuot nito. Parang rehearsal na ang nakaraang pandemya sa magiging health protocols natin. Importante mapanatili natin ang disiplina na natutunan natin noong panahon ng pandemya. Wala akong nakikitang rason kung bakit hindi ito maging bahagi ng ating displina sa araw-araw.

Maaari tayong magpatawag ng hearing para marinig natin ang mga kinauukulan, lalo na ang DOH, para busisiin ang mga paghahanda sakaling tumaas pa lalo ang bilang ng mga COVID-19 cases sa bansa. Mabuti na yung proactive tayo dahil ayaw nating mabigla na naman ang ating healthcare system.

Among the issues we will be looking at are the need to revisit our health protocols; utilization rate of our COVID-19 health facilities; status of supplies of vaccines, medicines and protective equipment; and state of preparedness of our local governments nationwide, etc.

Sa muli, apela ko ulit sa mga kababayan natin na palaging ingatan ang inyong kalusugan dahil katumbas ito ng inyong buhay. Kung may nararamdaman, magpa check up kaagad sa mga Super Health Centers, rural health units at public hospitals. Mahalaga ang primary medical care at early disease detection