The Armed Forces of the Philippines is planning to mobilize more than 3,000 reservists to augment frontliners asking for a “time out” amid the COVID-19 pandemic, its spokesperson said on Saturday.
“Ang atin na lang pong imo-mobilize ay ‘yung other reservists na nasa medical profession. Doktor, nurse, ‘yung mga iba pang practitioners sa larangan ng kalusugan upang makatulong sa atin,” AFP spokesperson Major General Edgard Arevalo said during a Dobol B sa News TV interview.
“Sa ngayon po sa ating initial na pagbilang, nasa mahigit 3,000 ‘yung ating mga doktor, nurses at ‘yung other professions like mga enlisted personnel, ayan po ay umaabot sa humigit kumulang 800 pa, ‘yan po ay sa buong bansa,” he said.
Other reservists were already deployed in their localities, and no longer needed to be pulled out, Arevalo said.
He said “additional” budget is needed for the hazard pay and benefits outside of their current budget for the reservists.
Various medical associations had called on President Rodrigo Duterte to place National Capital Region (NCR)  back to enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) as health workers are already worn out due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases being admitted in hospitals.
Following the call, the government placed the NCR and the provinces of Bulacan, Laguna, Cavite, and Riza under moderate enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) starting August 4 up to 18./Stacy Ang
