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Scrap COVID-19 task force? IATF says it's not perfect, but give due recognition

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ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="President Rodrigo Duterte presides over a meeting with the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) core members prior to his talk to the people at the Arcadia Active Lifestyle Center in Matina, Davao City on Sept. 22, 2021. Arman Baylon, Presidential Photo/File " src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/news/09/30/20210922-duterte-iatf-mnib8.jpg"/><figcaption>President Rodrigo Duterte presides over a meeting with the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) core members prior to his talk to the people at the Arcadia Active Lifestyle Center in Matina, Davao City on Sept. 22, 2021. Arman Baylon, Presidential Photo/File </figcaption></figure></div><p><br/>MANILA — The Inter-agency Task Force on COVID-19 response fended off calls for its scrapping on Thursday, telling the public that while it does not claim to be perfect, it must be given &quot;due recognition&quot; for pandemic efforts. </p><p>Sen. Joel Villanueva on Tuesday suggested the abolition of the IATF, saying it has stopped being effective for &quot;quite a long time.&quot; Local governments should take over the task force&#x27;s role, he said. </p><p>&quot;We do not claim to have been perfect,&quot; IATF and Malacañang spokesman Harry Roque said in response. </p><p>&quot;But certainly, let’s give due recognition where it is due dahil nakikita naman po natin, naiiwasan natin ang mas marami pa sanang mga kamatayan,&quot; he said in a press briefing. </p><p>(We see that we are avoiding more possible deaths.)</p><p>The task force, he said, was responsible for securing the country&#x27;s COVID-19 vaccine supply, as well as coming up with quarantine levels and the new alert system being tested in Metro Manila. </p><p>&quot;Napakahirap po kasing gawin &#x27;yan kung walang kumukumpas,&quot; Roque said. &quot;Ang papel lang naman po ng IATF ay tagakumpas. Talaga naman pong ang nagpapatupad n&#x27;yan, mga lokal na pamahalaan.&quot; </p><p>(That will be difficult to do without someone calling the shots. The role of the IATF is to coordinate. Local governments implement that.)</p><p>President Rodrigo Duterte previously faced criticism for tapping former military generals to lead COVID-19 response and relying heavily on region-wide lockdowns. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/09/29/21/philippines-at-bottom-of-bloomberg-covid-resilience-ranking">Philippines at bottom of Bloomberg COVID Resilience Ranking</a></li></ul><p>His government is also facing a Senate inquiry into its management of pandemic funds. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/09/21/21/duterte-accuses-senate-of-engaging-in-fishing-expedition">Duterte accuses Senate of engaging in &#x27;fishing expedition&#x27;</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/09/25/21/pharmally-official-admits-swindling-by-firm">Pharmally official admits swindling by firm</a></li></ul><p>The Philippines&#x27; overall coronavirus infections crossed the 2.5-million mark this week. The tally includes some 38,000 deaths. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/09/29/21/ph-adds-12805-new-covid-19-cases-amid-low-lab-output">PH adds 12805 new COVID-19 cases amid low lab output</a></li></ul><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1785822" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar"><em>Video courtesy of PTV </em></div>

The inter-agency task force on COVID-19 fended off calls for its scrapping on Thursday.