Limlimgan: The devil and the deep blue sea

I CAN’T imagine how difficult the situation is to become the topmost leader of a country, now that there is a pandemic that kills a great number and infects a much greater number of the constituency. This can be gleaned on the face and body language of our own President Rodrigo Duterte.

Whenever President Duterte conducts a press briefing or simply releases his statement through broadcasts, we can observe his stressed stance, his lack of sleep and a lot of question marks on what to do to address the global problem on Covid-19. As he is no medical expert, we can see in him a blank face on what to do next since Philippine statistics do not show any decline in the number of cases on the virus spread.

If barangay captains, mayors and governors are often bashed or criticized by their respective constituencies, the President has much more constituents than the said local officials, thus the more critics he has too. If he takes the criticisms seriously, which most of these are actually out of tune and untimely, then he is putting more stress in his mind.

The President, as well as other government officials, are in a quandary at the moment on what to do to help the public, the infected and the not. The latter although they are medically free from the virus, should not feel hunger while mostly if not all economic activities of man were put to halt while the enhances community quarantine (ECQ) is in effect.

In one of the broadcasted statements of President Duterte, he mentioned that he has to choose between the devil and the deep blue sea while talking about extending the ECQ or not. If he shall be lifting the lockdown, then the country would have to take the risk of having more infections of the virus.

On the other hand, if he shall extend the ECQ, the government should have to deal with the mouths and stomachs of Filipinos who are quarantined in their homes. The effect of the virus is so tremendous, paralyzing everything that has to deal with making a living and being alive.

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The latest high-ranking government official who was reported to have been infected with the Covid-19 is Secretary Leonor Briones of the Department of Education (DepEd). Government officials are not spared by the virus regardless their rank or portfolio. At present, she is on a quarantine despite being asymptomatic and was later on tested negative.

Speaking of the DepEd, the said department should start considering now the changing of the start of the curriculum or academic year from June to August this year and every year thereafter. Because of the ECQ, the school year has ended prematurely.

It can be recalled that there were many proposals and suggestions in the past for the moving of the start of the school year so students can avoid the start of the rainy season during the month of June. This the most opportune time to move the start of the academic year. I hope the government should consider this.

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For any comments, ideas, suggestions or opinions, text or call The Advocate at 0921-3636360 or send email at dencious@gmail.com

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