While world leaders continue to debate whether there should be a suspension of intellectual property rights for COVID-19 vaccines, Senator Win Gatchalian urged the government to be one step ahead – explore the possibility of the country having the capacity to produce its own vaccine.

With measles deaths around the world up 50 percent from 2016 to 2019, Senator Win Gatchalian is urging local government units (LGUs) to aim for increased coverage of their immunization programs to prevent outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases.

Senator Win Gatchalian urged hospitals to continuously expand their patient capacity for COVID-19 cases that could overload the country’s healthcare system.

Senator Win Gatchalian called on the government to seriously consider the construction of field hospitals to augment and increase the capacity of hospitals accommodating COVID-19 positive patients.

Senator Win Gatchalian sees the need to heighten the campaign on the adverse effects of continued use of cigarette and tobacco products, especially among the youth, to lessen the risk of those vulnerable to COVID-19 infection.

As the country observes Safe Motherhood Week, Senator Win Gatchalian emphasized the need to establish birthing facilities in isolated and disadvantaged areas to reduce maternal deaths nationwide.

Senator Win Gatchalian is urging the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) to provide more decent quarantine homes for returning Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) to ensure their health and safety during this time of the COVID-19 pandemic.

With the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) still in effect, Senator Win Gatchalian is urging the Department of Health (DOH) to ensure the continued delivery of health care programs in Local Government Units (LGUs) under the “Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Mag-Nanay Act” (Republic Act 11148) or the “First 1,000 Days Law,” which he co-authored.

With the national government set to replicate Valenzuela City’s inclusion of Persons Under Monitoring (PUMs) in mass testing activities, Senator Win Gatchalian said Local Government Units (LGUs) will be better equipped in tracking down asymptomatic carriers of COVID-19 as this is crucial in containing the virus.