“WE ALL have different perspectives in life. We all take different decisions in life each day based on our convictions. We may take wrong or right decisions knowingly and or unknowingly. We may regard the decisions of others right or wrong reasons to judge others. We have a choice to condemn or uplift others regardless of their situation. May we, instead of finding reasons to condemn, find reasons to uplift others,” said book author Ernest Agyemang Yeboah.
We are facing this health emergency crisis because of this coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. It’s not time to play the “blame game” or finger-point against some inept and inutile political leaders who are handling this crisis. Instead, it’s time for unity, support and understanding to combat this dreaded disease. As they say: The most successful leaders are able to see their role in the blame game, admit. There is no question that the blame game can be painful for all of us at times. But good leaders learn to avoid the temptation to blame others or hoard credit.
I am not a fault finder. But being an outsider looking in, these are my observations as to some loopholes in the implementation and execution of the “enhanced community quarantine” (ECQ), or lockdown, by our local chief executives.
First, why was the implementation of the ECQ in Cebu City and Lapu-Lapu City, both independent cities, and the Provincial Government not simultaneously implemented? Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella placed the entire city under ECQ last Saturday noon. Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard Chan last March 27 and Gov. Gwen Garcia came up with her “lockdown” effective immediately past midnight on Monday.
Why did our local chief executives not coordinate for a simultaneous implementation so that there would be a harmonious coordination in the execution. As a result of the separate dates of the implementation, there was confusion, disorder and chaos. People rushed to the groceries, supermarkets and pharmacies to buy basic commodities. Passengers going to the towns trooped to bus terminals to beat the deadline. With the different pronouncements, we cannot blame the people for panicking and being anxious.
I watched the Facebook live of Superbalita last Saturday night, where Governor Garcia was fuming mad as she confronted and scolded one of the policemen manning the checkpoint somewhere in Barangay Bulacao, Cebu City. Gwen rushed to the area after receiving reports that the policeman, a certain Escobar, prohibited buses carrying passengers to the towns from leaving the city. The policeman ordered the passengers to disembark and walk back to the city proper. Gwen claimed she already asked exemption from Cebu City Councilor Raymund Garcia to allow buses to ferry passengers for the province as Capitol’s lockdown would still take effect today.
You see that? Was Gwen’s request properly relayed to the police commander and down to the last element manning the various checkpoints? I doubt. I pitied that policeman for being the recipient of Gwen’s “acid tongue” when he was just following orders form his superior. I know there was a similar confusion as to the implementation of the ECQ. That is why, in my radio program, I urged Mayor Labella to provide copies to all policemen and soldiers manning the checkpoints of his executive order for their reference.
Even in the term, they seem not to agree. Labella uses “enhanced community quarantine” while Gwen uses “lockdown.” According to an LGBT, “Mabayot ko, boang.” I compared the EOs of Gwen and Labella, especially on people who are given exemptions in the ECQ. The Capitol allows more leeway. Earlier, Gwen vowed to close the borders between the city and the province. Those who will enter the city can no longer go back to the province and vice versa. She even urged employers based in the city to provide temporary shelter for their employees during the duration of the lockdown. But it seems she is inconsistent in her stand to close the borders when she is giving exemptions to almost all sectors in the community, especially the phrase: “All other employees of other businesses may be exempted as determined and approved by the Provincial Government.” Lockdown is lockdown.
One of the loopholes in Cebu City’s version is the issuance of quarantine passes. Labella implemented the ECQ even without preparing the quarantine passes. What made the confusion more complicated is that there is a Q pass for residents’ mobility in the barangay and for the city, in general, to be exclusively issued by City Hall. Why not delegate that matter to the barangays when barangay officials know their residents better?
As to members of the media being given exemption, this should not be limited to broadcast personalities and print reporters. There are other media workers like production people in the newspapers and TV shows and technical personnel for TV and radio. We cannot broadcast without these people. A certification of employment and company ID would suffice their exemption.
Do we need to create a “superbody” like the Metro Manila Development Authority so there will be close coordination among local government units in times of crisis?