Saturday, March 21, 2020 Matè Espina

We must stand united as a community and a nation despite our frustrations on how our national government and local governments are responding to the COVID-19 crisis especially now that we have a positive case in our city.

We laud the efforts of our officials and government agencies if merited, but it should not also stop us from calling them out if we feel they can do more in preserving our safety and yes, our sanity.

What we feared the most has come true and perhaps, people will now take this virus seriously and heed the advice to stay indoors if at all possible.

With the identification of the case, those who attended to the patient are immediately PUIs as well as family members and with the info gathered that the patient arrived some three weeks ago, contact tracing of those he had been in contact with might be next to impossible especially as the said patient is allegedly asymptomatic and still is.

But while the frustration appears to be mounting against our public officials, especially in the absence of test kits, we also have to acknowledge the many who are silently working without needing public acknowledgment.

Even those who are publicly documenting their assistance, perhaps for political advancement, for as long as they are helping in the war against COVID-19, let praises be heaped upon them. Just like Sen. Manny Pacquiao who has unabashedly posted on social media his distribution of surgical masks and announced the supposed arrival of 50,000 test kits with the help of Alibaba founder, Jack Ma.

Many find it distasteful especially with rumors that the boxing champ is eyeing the presidency come 2022. Well, I can’t stop my eyes rolling but I’m still grateful if those test kits do arrive. That’s still way better than what the national government is doing, or the lack of it, in response to this crisis.

Since we are on a self-imposed quarantine, many of us turn to social media as the most active venue at the present to communicate information, concerns and the dreaded fake news and propaganda.

And by far, topping the list of shared articles are stories of what the young and dynamic mayors in Metro Manila who have the foresight of preparing for the worst case scenario in their towns and cities.

Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora and Valenzuela Mayor Rex Gatchalian have shown us that things are possible if the chief executives have a grasp of what can happen in the event that more and more patients turn up positive.

Here in Bacolod, Mayor Bing Leonardia is being bashed online because he has not been that visible compared to the public presence of Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran and Rep. Greg Gasataya who used social media as well to inform the public of what they have been doing.

Of course, the bashing may not be meritorious because I’ve seen Mayor Bing conduct press conferences to update the people and yes, El Cid is more visible because he heads the city’s Inter-Agency Task Force.

But, I totally understand where people are coming from because in this time of crisis, we always look up to the highest elected official to provide the leadership even if only to allay fears and make the residents feel secure. Our national leadership has miserably failed in that and so we look upon our local officials to give us an assurance that they are truly on top of the situation.

Rep. Greg’s announcement that test kits are forthcoming is being shared widely and has somehow given us hope. Gov. Bong Lacson also said that test kits will arrive Saturday and more admirable are efforts from the private sector who are trying to negotiate the bringing in of test kits too and even the equipment to allow us to do the testing here immediately. Hopefully, more will follow.

It may not be right to compare one form of leadership to another, but as I’ve mentioned then, this crisis will be a test of leadership for all and if and when we surpass this, actions or the lack of it will be remembered by the public in the next election (unless we again will have short memories that can be bought by the blue-colored bill.)

I was listening to the interview of Mayor Gatchalian yesterday and how his city has been preparing for any eventuality from converting facilities into isolation buildings for positive patients to scheduled distribution of food.

It made me appreciate the foresight of Gov. Bong Lacson to convert St. Anne’s Hospital into an isolation hospital because if many will turn out positive, the provincial hospital in Silay may not be able to accommodate these patients while tending to other cases as well.

That thought made me cringe as to what will Bacolod do when that time comes especially with one positive case now? We only have the regional hospital as a government health facility in the city and even without the crisis, that hospital is already facing a deluge of cases they have to attend to because our city does not have its own hospital.

Are there negotiations with private hospitals here or hotels to convert theirs into an isolation building as others have been doing in Manila? Is this issue even being discussed among city health officials and our city officials?

I have been harping about our lack of a city hospital but unfortunately, officials have been focused on building a coliseum and museums. With this crisis, will there be a change of heart and plans?

But again while the action or lack of it from our officials bring frustration, it is but right to also laud the efforts of those who are really doing something, small or big, to help this fight.

Gov. Bong and Vice-Gov. Jeffrey Ferrer, along with provincial administrator Ray Diaz and former Rep. Albee Benitez merits a shout out for facilitating the return of Negrenses who were stuck in Clark, Pampanga for days even if one of the passengers was idiotic enough to run away. I heard that guy will face charges post the quarantine period and if so, he will have an extended vacation, not in Mambukal, but in jail.

I was in close contact with Rotarian Amelyn Bravo who became the conduit of those passengers to the province and to other Rotarians in Pampanga who mobilized to deliver water, Jollibee hamburgers, sanitizers, face masks and allow me to personally thank Past District Governor Jess Nicdao of RC Western Pampanga, Past President Susan Czudai of RC Angeles Kuliat, Past President Lito Mercado and President Joy Cangco of RC Balibago along with Chris Cangco and Jennifer Eliazar. Our people will always be thankful for your help.

Allow me to make mention also of PMSg Renlo Jaen and Pat. Willyfredo Victoriano of Bac-up 4 for immediately responding to a problem we had in our community recently. When we have alert law enforcers, it makes us feel a bit safe that we can rely on them when needed. Lastly, a huge shout out to the doctors and interns of CLMMRH who organized themselves to form the Home Quarantine Food Packs which are now being followed by groups in Cebu and Makati. Like them, we can do something if we stay united, if we spread care.*