Senator Risa Hontiveros has urged  the Department of Health (DOH)  to step up its campaign to detect and contain the  transmission of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the country.

Hontiveros made  the call after DOH’s report of the first two Filipino cases of COVID-19, one of whom had no history of travel abroad. “This is the first case of local transmission of COVID-19. Ibig sabihin, may  nagkakahawaan na sa loob ng bansa,” Hontiveros said.

The senator   said that DOH has to intensify local community health systems in the fight against the virus.

“Detection and containment will improve if our community health surveillance and monitoring also improve,” Hontiveros pointed out.

“Isama natin ang mga local government units at mga barangay sa laban kontra sa virus na ito,” she also said.

“A weak health system poses a risk to public health. We need the DOH to be hawk-eyed and transparent with the public every step of the way,” she further stated./Stacy Ang