ORANI, Bataan — Senator Joel Villanueva on Thursday afternoon voiced dissatisfaction over the way the problem of the 2019 novel coronavirus is being handled in the country.
“Nakakalungkot na kulang ang efforts para talagang masiguro natin na we are secured and we are protecting our people,” he said.
He noted that in the recent Senate hearing, the big gaps were uncovered. “Natutuwa ako na sa Bataan, nakikita ang quick response ng local government unit sa calamity,” the senator said.
“Kailangan natin experto. Dapat tumalima tayo sa mga experts. Ano ba ginagawa ng ilang bansa na hindi natin ginagawa. Yon bang protocol ng travel ban, would it have been better if ginawa earlier?” he said. “Pero better to do it than not doing it at all. Hindi pa rin ito late para sa akin. We can continue the lockdown. It is not too late to do the lockdown para masiguro na mapoprotektahan natin ang ating mga kababayan.”
“Para sa akin, we continue doing our layers of defense. Gawin natin nang sa ganoon meron tayong peace of mind na alam natin na bagama’t wala pa rin cure sa coronavirus, we are prepared. We are doing everything na mabawasan ang risk para kumalat sa atin,” Villanueva said.
The senator was in Orani, Bataan for the inauguration of the 1Bataan IntegratedTraining Center in the 20-hectare land, also site of the 1BataanCommand Center and 911.
Gov. Albert Garcia thanked Villanueva for allocating P50 million for the construction of the center and spelled out its importance in conducting training of private and public individuals in emergency and disaster response.
The center will help strengthen the capacity of barangays in communication, coordination, command and control in disaster response. It has an administration, academic and dormitory buildings.
The governor said the province was fortunate for not having major calamities hitting other areas: “It is not a perfect world. Huwag asahan na palaging masuwerte tayo. Kailangan maging handa upang maging resilient, peaceful at kaaya aya ang Bataan.”
“Kapag handang-handa na tayo at palaging na-practice ang protocols at may kalamidad, natural o man-made, hindi man sa atin kundi sa ibang lugar, tutulong tayo as good citizens and as good public servants,” Garcia said.
