Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Tuesday acknowledged President Rodrigo Duterte's statement calling him a "hero" of the Philippines COVID-19 response but said the honor should be given to healthcare workers and frontliners.

"I appreciate wholeheartedly what the President said, but the health workers [and] economic frontliners, sila po ang sinasaluduhan natin dahil sa mahusay na pagganap sa pagsasalba ng buhay, COVID-19 case man or hindi," Duque said in a press briefing.

"I hope they remain inspired and strong given that they are the ones taking care of COVID-19 patients," he added.

In his regular Talk to the People address, Duterte made a comparison with the COVID-19 response of the country with others, saying that the Philippine government’s response is “good.”