Densing’s recent statements nothing to do with DILG – Malaya

The legitimate spokesperson of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) issued a clarification on Tuesday regarding the recent statements made by DILG Usec. Epimaco Densing III on the government’s response to the pandemic.

DILG spokesperson Usec Jonathan Malaya said the department distances itself from what Densing said in its interview with the ANC on Monday.

Malaya said Densing’s statements were his only opinion and had nothing to do with DILG.

“The Department wishes to clarify that the views expressed by Usec. Epimaco Densing III on ANC yesterday about the government’s response to the surge is his own personal opinion and does not reflect the position of the DILG,” said Malaya.

In the ANC, Densing said the government was caught off guard by the severity of the COVID-19 surge that began in March.

“There was really a complacency… especially during the time when we started to talk about the vaccines. And everybody was so complacent that the spread came in even before we had to implement those opening-up-of-the-economy programs and activities,” said Densing.

“Last year, the capacities were clear… At this point, our capacity was very strong prior to this new surge. This is what we call the second surge. And the second surge was bigger than last year, that’s why we had to increase capacity,” he added.

Densing’s recent statements nothing to do with DILG – Malaya

“We never expected that the surge will be more than that last year… The system was still strong until this second surge came in the first week of March. But it went more than what was expected last year. And nobody expected this, including the other countries, so we are not alone in this kind of surge,” said Densing.

“Right now, what we need are immediate and fast, reactive responses, because this is a problem which we cannot anticipate. We do not know how the problem will move. We have no direct solutions right now except the vaccine. People need to be part of the whole solution itself by practicing minimum heath standards. And that’s part of the whole package we will be imposing in the next week or so.”