By: Elena Grace Flores
YouTube video by Imee Marcos
Senator Imee Marcos appeared on PTV-4’s Laging Handa Public Briefing on April 29 where she spoke with PCOO Secretary Martin Andanar and Undersecretary Rocky Ignacio.
The Only RITM was from the Marcos Era
The Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM)is the only faciity that can verify the COVID-19 tests in today’s crisis. Senator Imee Marcos said that it is needs maintenance work. It is crucial also to duplicate it for other regions to do independent testings. The RITM officially exists on April 23, 1981 during the Marcos regime.
Senate Bill 1407
Marcos stresses that the RITM can do better during the COVID-19 crisis given the right equipment by the Department of Health (DOH). That is possible if it had more attention in the past years. Marcos files Senate Bill 1407 which seeks to increase RITM’s personnel and their salaries, establish regional centers, and equip it better for future outbreaks.
Buil Build Build Recommendation
The Build Build Build project is also a Marcos blueprint that President Rodrigo Duterte adapts. This is a profitable investment that must not be delayed for the country to continue the economic progress despite the Covid-19 crisis. The initial funding is from the ADB. Most construction supplies are from China due to their competitive prices as per the bidding protocol. A Japanese consortium also handles the consulting process. The Senator recommends to have a public-private partnerships for these projects to avoid any delay.
Fr. Jose Bosch Innovative Skills Training Advocacy Cooperative (ISTAC)
