Davao City – The Department of Health in Region XI has defended Executive Order 53 signed by Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte requiring RT/PCR tests for patients referred to Davao City Hospitals.
The EO came under heavy criticism by many due to the inconvenience and added costs in getting admitted to hospitals.
“Dapat pong malaman nang lahat ng tao na nag-iisip po tayo lahat even our LCE (local chief executives) nag-iisip po para sa welfare ng ating mga pasyente, ng kanilang mga bantay at the same time ang welfare ng ating mga healthcare workers para makabigay po sila ng magandang serbisyo para sa ating mga pasyente. (The people must know that we are all thinking even our LCEs, they are thinking about the welfare of our patients, watchers, and at the same time the welfare of our healthcare workers so that they can give good service to the patients), DOH-XI Assistant Regional Director Lenny Joy Rivera said during the One Davao on COVID-19 presser.
ARD Rivera said the EO is not anti-poor as it was crafted with everyone in mind, a precautionary measure to protect people particularly those working in the hospitals.
“That’s the reason we are trying to protect our healthcare workers from unnecessary exposure, kaya po ginawa yung executive order para po to sa kabutihan ng marami po (for the good of all).
“We had series of meetings conducted regarding the implementing guidelines of the EO,” Rivera said.
Among the stakeholders they had met included City Health Office, the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) and the various consultants which included those from infectious diseases, pediatrics, surgeons plus the different private hospitals in the city.
“Maganda po na aware and oriented ang mga hospitals on how will they go about with the implementation of Executive Order 53-A. (It is better if the hospitals are aware and oriented on how they will go about with the implementation of Executive Order 53-A),” ARD Rivera said. (Philippine Information Agency/RG Alama)