By Democrito C. Barcenas

DESPITE limited resources and budgetary constraints imposed by a hostile administration, Vice President Leni Robredo has embarked on no-nonsense initiatives to help the people in this coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic crisis.

After launching its Bayanihan E-Konsulta project with thousands of health worker-volunteers, the office of Vice President Leni Robredo recently rolled out a mobile testing laboratory in a bid to decongest and prevent the transmission of Covid-19 in hospitals in Metro Manila.

The mobile testing laboratory offers free Covid-19 tests, X-ray and blood tests to patients referred by their doctors from E-Konsulta.

“We tried this initiative to support the Bayanihan E-Konsulta. This is very replicable and very doable; if many local government units will do this, we can decongest our hospitals,” Robredo said in a video message posted on her official Facebook page.

No doubt, the Vice President’s endeavor will succeed because she is ably assisted by a competent team of medical experts and advisers. This is directly in contrast to the policy of President Duterte who relies on his generals and military advisers to solve a pandemic.

It is not, therefore, surprising that President Duterte has become exasperated, tired and weary the last few months. He seems to be overwhelmed by the enormity of this Covid-19 problem that has caused thousands of deaths to brother Filipinos, unequal distribution of vaccines, loss of jobs and rising unemployment and a shattered economy.