AFTER over a year of dealing with the coronavirus pandemic only two realities emerge: 1) the virus is more potent than the task forces, czars, and expert community combined and 2) the blame game is getting even stronger by the day because no one wants to admit having been remiss of conscientiously planning for the worst.
We have come up with Bayanihan to Heal as One Acts 1 and 2—supposedly to reinvigorate both humans (in the form of ayuda) and the economy (in the form of incentives, subsidies to revive small and medium businesses), and we have borrowed heavily for vaccines, which to this day has yet to arrive because we are still relying not on procured supplies but on donations.
Then the fiasco created by the illogical scare to vaccination from Dengvaxia has forced pharma companies abroad not to sell or give supplies to us, unless we give indemnity insurance for whatever it is, we want to obtain from them.
None of them would want to suffer from the bad experience of Sanofi.
We have seen a resurgence of the virus, which government officials quickly blame on the common man, who had grown weary of complying to their mandates—but which they themselves flaunt at disobeying.
And when a top official like the chief of the Philippine National Police Debold Sinas gets the virus, people readily post in social media “karma has caught up with you.”
A closer look at what brought the surge would indicate that it resulted from wrong policies by the COVID task force of removing restrictions to movements and travels (such as health and travel certificates) and opening cinemas, gyms, recreational facilities, and others, all for the sake of revving up the economy.
I have written about the folly of these policies in the past, only to be proven right by current realities.
We also negotiated for vaccine supplies too late, preferring to wait for China’s supply commitments to us (in the name of friendship) and until everything was too late, we are still waiting for approvals and from scraps that can be spared to us by world suppliers of vaccines.
Reports said that of the over 1 million doses now in the country (of Sinovac and AstraZeneca vaccines) only less than 200,000 have been given to the healthcare system—front liners who risk every day just to tend to the virus sufferers.
Those in power get piqued (and super sensitive) at criticisms, especially coming from the vice president who (despite having little, or no budget) goes around the country to assist communities during this pandemic.
And they are quick to say she is doing all these to campaign for herself for next year’s elections.
That which they are equipped to do (because they have massive resources at hand) but which they fail to because they do not have a genuine appetite to serve the people, they blame on her. How pathetic!
The pandemic has taught the people who to listen to and who cares for them.
The one that tells the truth and gives them the real score in real time.
The OCTA Research Group after all has nothing to lose but everything to gain in credibility and respect.
The outspoken doctors and nurses and lab technicians who cry out for help because the healthcare system is now again becoming overwhelmed.
Yet, despite their warnings, those in power choose to bide their sweet time—waiting for the donated vaccines and other medical supplies.
Those billions or trillions of pesos in grants, loans and donations—where are they going? I cannot see any signs of improvement in the way this administration is handling the pandemic.
By now, or after over a year of the pandemic, the private conglomerates could have dried out their resources and can only spare a few of what is left for protecting the frontliners, the marginalized and those needing immediate assistance.
After all, 2020 saw these companies pitching in by the billions of pesos for protective gears, for laboratory and diagnostic equipment, quarantine facilities, sanitation and food supplies and other quick remedies to forestall famine and deprivation of the people.
The government accepted everything but failed to give its share for these necessities.
Yet it has the gumption to commission survey after survey to show that people are happy with its handling of the pandemic. Horrible!
When can we look for better times? Be wary of politicians who will use the pandemic for their selfish end.
Please choose your leaders wisely. I blame myself for choosing the wrong leader in 2016.