CONSIDERED as Covid super-spreader events, the recent Batangas swings of presidentiables Sen. Manny Pacquiao and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno might not be the last in the province.
Although cases are waning, Batangas Gov. Hermilando Mandanas stressed during an assessment meeting of concerned agencies in the province, the need to protect and safeguard the welfare of the people especially on the matter of Covid-19 infections.
We are one with his personal observation that should there be another “surge” in cases impact of which would be of tremendous proportions to business, livelihood, and jobs that would simply render Mr. Pacquiao’s P1,000 dole outs as nothing but a drop in the proverbial bucket.
And that, Mandanas said, “we can never allow that to happen again” towards the direction of Batangas Province Police Office Director Col. Glicerio Cansilao.
Read Mandanas’ lips: “Dahil kapag nagka-surge na naman tayo, marami mawawalan ng trabaho, magugutom.”
This is true as quarantine restrictions will again be imposed, movement of the people curtailed, and businesses will again close. No work, no pay, no money, equals hunger.
But with the election season upon us, shutting the province down to national candidates is next to impossible as Mandanas admits.
And to prevent another Isko Moreno and Manny Pacquiao super-spreader events, Cansilao was put to task, instructed by the governor to require handlers of national candidates to provide the police provincial office advance notice, their itinerary, timeline, and present their own social distancing plan.
Cases are tumbling down in the province to almost nil but prevention and vigilance against the virus should remain.
Complacency kills.