By Monsi A. Serrano
More than a year has passed since the pandemic struck our country. Based on how the government handled the first COVID-19 case would already give you a prognosis on how it was going to be when the health crisis became bigger.
No less than the Department of Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III rejected the ban on Chinese tourists when Filipinos called the government to make a pro-active move in banning flights from China. Duque warned that banning flights would force diplomatic and political repercussions on the Philippines.
I didn’t even know that the DOH has already had foreign policy in its domain. I would’ve understood if those words came from Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin, Jr. But DOH, I can’t understand the reason why Duque even went there. Mind you, he even had the temerity to say that the DOH has scaled up and leveled up border surveillance and that Philippine quarantine officers were well equipped to handle the situation.
Fast forward, the Philippines has the longest lockdown implemented in the world, not to mention the stringent enforcement of community quarantine protocols that led to the murder of Marawi Siege veteran Winston Ragos that remains unsolved to date. Well, lucky you if you are in the government like the infamous Chief PNP Debold Siñas’ Mañanita, Harry Roque’s Subic vacation with his dolphin-relatives, Mocha’s event in Batangas, Senator Aquilino Pimentel III and many more, because you are not covered by the rule, because you are the law!
But what I find ironic is that despite the hard lockdown and strict health protocols being implemented such as mandatory wearing of masks and face shields, the cases of COVID-19 remain unabated. Let me share with you my thoughts why.
First the President appointed former military generals to lead the war against the pandemic. With all due respect to these generals, their mindset is tactical and not strategic. Hence, if you notice our lockdown, it is varying no medium or long term plan say 5 months lockdown. Sometimes, I ask myself if the lockdown is decided using a random picker wheel or roulette wheel, because people were not given time and the announcement was made past midnight beating the show of then ‘The Johnny Midnight Show’. This shows what kind of management skills they have.
Second, people are required to wear masks and face shields, and worst, made it mandatory for the face shield. The people are already worrying about their daily sustenance and here is the government creating more problems instead of solutions. In management, there is an adage that says, “Are you here with a problem of a solution?” The Filipino people entrust everything to the government, with the loans and grants added daily in the coffers of the government like mendicants asking for alms. The question is how is the fund being used?
Now, with the addition of face shields as part of our government’s health protocol for those who are going outside of residence, did we scale down the cases of pandemic in the country? Face shields are a money-making business of those enterprising relatives of those who are close with the gods of Olympus. Needless to say, I preempted the implementation of face shield last year around July when the price was ranging from P100 to P150!
I informed several high ranking government officials about this and told them that there were several containers of face shields that arrived in the country and being hoarded in some warehouses mostly located in Parañaque, then some in Manila, Taguig, Valenzuela and Quezon City. This resulted in the drop in price of face shields. I even have several convos with dealers to fish out info and they were playing that there’s scarcity in face shields that is why the price hit as high as P100 each.
DTI conducted their inspections and told the DOH the suggested retail price of face shields and masks, and this preempted the price manipulation. What would make you wonder is why the price of masks and face shields are under the control of the DOH and not DTI. Ask your malicious mind what you can assume about this, and your guess is as good as mine.
Third, no unified protocol or rule for LGUs. Last year we were about to dine at Shakey’s restaurant in Parañaque and we were not allowed to enter because my daughter has down syndrome. I reached out to Peter Khemlani Chief Marketing Officer, but he ignored me but that’s another story. Apparently, the LGU and the establishments were not communicating well. With the recently mandated uniform protocol in the entire country (Hope not in the news alone), this is a welcome development.
Last but not the least – discipline. While we know the palpable unforgivable shortcomings of the government and their incessant fund raising campaign in the name of COVID-19, the discipline and cooperation of the Filipino people are much needed. Okay, the Malacañang mouthpiece wantonly violated the community quarantine. The Chief PNP is not going through health screening in Oriental Mindoro and many more exemptions for them. They both have COVID-19 now and that doesn’t make me wonder why.
Now, let’s look at the bigger picture. Let’s look at the welfare of our family, colleagues and our very own life. Let’s wear masks and face shields, observe social distancing and follow health protocols implemented in the establishments. Lastly, do not go to places or establishments that disregard health protocols. I would rather go to the places or establishments that strictly observe health protocols than those who are careless and lenient management. Discipline plays a big role in minimizing the spread of COVID-19 cases in the country. But with discipline goes planning perfectly.
As the management author Alan Lakein said, “Planning is bringing the future into the present so that you can do something about it now.”
