By Anthony Pagapulaan

PHOTO: Rappler

Senator Ronald Dela Rosa became controversial after his coined 'PhD', which he considered effective in combating any COVID-19 variant, even the new Omicron.

"PhD" is not an educational degree, instead, according to Dela Rosa, P stands for "Pagpapabakuna" (vaccine inoculation), H for "Health protocols," and D for "Diyos" (God).

“Gayun pa man, Omicron man ‘yan o Delta, o kahit na anong variant pa, kaya nating labanan basta mayroong ‘PhD’ ang bawat isa sa atin,” the lawmaker wrote on Facebook.

Dr. RJ Naguit, Akbayan Partylist second nominee, was one of those who responded to Bato's proposal to fight the Omicron variant, calling it a "brain-rot proposal."

"Minsan mo na nga lang marinig about health policy, ganito pa maririnig mo. Sinusweldohan talaga natin siya for these brain-rot proposals??" the nominee said.

The country's COVID-19 tally continuously hikes, logging the record-high 33, 169 on January 10, since the preceding wave's downtrend last year.