If we go by the scale and scope of the COVID 19 crisis in the country, assuming these are the only parameters used to make the best-case evaluation of how we’re handling it so far, it looks like it’s gone from bad to worse.
As of this writing, we have breached the 50,000 mark for infection cases — probably, this is a mix of both actual and active cases, the distinction may be purely technical — and from Metro Manila, the epicenter is moving towards the south, both geographical and trending in direction.
A group of mathematicians from the University of the Philippines has projected the number of COViD 19 cases to reach 100,00 by the end of August. What plan the government has to make sure U.P. is beaten again in their game, isn’t clear or convincing.
At this point, it’s getting worrisome, given that health experts say the second wave of the crisis hasn’t yet happen. In other words, the situation could get worse better it gets better. How the government is reacting can be both a source of confidence or distress. When the disease had infected only a few thousands, government authorities were screaming their heads off about issues from people’s lack of discpline to lack of health resources.
As it is now, government appears more composed, cool and collective — and kinder and nicer and cuter, even to the public who it earlier tagged as the cause both of the spread and the spike in viral infection. Again, if you go by how our top leaders have been comporting themselves, the crisis is well under control.
For instance, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque had find time to cavort with his favorite Cetacean family–probably biased because of their bottlenoses — in Subic while more people get the virus. He even suggested that people can dance away with the existential scare. President Duterte has moved to his comfort zone in Davao City, away from the epicenter, an exemplary display of highly cautious social distancing
The true picture of the pandemic, however, is far from being honestly declared by our leaders. One thing is sure, though, according to experts: we haven’t, by any stretch of imagination, flattened the curve. In short, we have not controlled the virus yet because, precisely, the numbers is telling us the fact to the contrary: more people get the disease, and in greater number as the days blow by. Robredo has gone as far as to say the government is in self-denial. Self-delusion is equally tempting.
How can the government better its performance versus the invisible enemy?
One suggestion for our leaders, not just President Duterte, is to sharpen their focus on the problem. The government seems distracted by other issues, like the anti-terror law, the ABS-CBN franchise renewal, the renaming of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and the feared fashion (inggit lang kayo, says a fashion designer) show during the forthcoming Presidential SONA. It’s about time government revisited its priorities in this time of the pandemic, something other leaders like Vice President Leni Robredo have endlessly hammered on time and again.
Part of Robredo and company’s objective maybe politics, perhaps even partisan, but their point should not invalidated or discarded outright merely on that account. No one has the monopoly of good ideas when the nation is in danger. All hands must be on deck.
Then there is the recurrent issue on leadership expertise. Even as more star generals are appointed to quell the viral swell, it does’t seem to make the difference we would like to see in terms of less cases, few hotspots, higher recoveries, etc. The swell continues.
The military generals’ competence and reliability may beyond question, but not when it comes to neutralizing the massive killing bug. Medical science, not military science, is what’s tellingly needed in the trenches. It’s sad and tragic that some of our best medical experts are shying or being shooed away from the warfront.
The contaminating infatuation and subservience of some of our top leaders with China may be setting us back farther to push a more aggressive strategy against the virus. In fact, had our leaders been less tentative in implementing restrictions about Chinese movements in and out of the country at the outset of the virus, we may be in less dire situation now, despite their apparent altruistic hand toward us.
We should learn from Greek history: remember the Greek bearing gifts. This time, it’s the Chinese donating face masks. Both hide the real intent.
Better communication, meaning emphasis on what you say and how you say it, is critical in making the people either strategic partners or resistant pushers-back in the collective struggle not just to survive but win the so-called war convincingly. Being honest and open to our people about the crisis is probably the best antidote to the virus unbridled spread. Browbeating, harassing and threatening the public have been tried, tested and found wanting.
Comparing the government’s performance with that of the other countries may not be wise and realistic. The apple-to-apple comparison may even make us look bad. Apple-to-orange? Pointless.
In this historic fight against a difficult, unseen enemy, every little thing, every little idea, regardless of the political color of the source, counts, especially with 20/20 vision.
Ignoring them is a drop-dead, defeatist mindset.
