LOCALIZATION of an anti-Covid campaign is alright but it needs full support from and monitoring by the central government. Otherwise, localization would just breed anarchy and turfism.
The DILG has recently declared that the main fight vs Covid-19 is now localized in the local government units (LGUs).
In my analysis the localization is a manifestation of exhaustiveness and
frustrations of the national government to curve Covid surge in the National Capital Region - rather than a feeling of success.
What the government has now is an economy in recession, with small and medium businesses in terrible distressed, increased unemployment, restive people over the loss of many of their rights and freedom, and no less LGUs under fire from citizens over alleged corruption of funds for citizens affected by lockdowns.
Sadly, and ironically, the government weakness is of its own making, by its unpreparedness, lack of right strategy, and incompetence of some of its national leaders.
The national government is now relieved of many responsibilities and encumbrances except for policy direction, fund management and regulatory functions, and except for the DILG which is the chief pilot of LGUs.
At least the national government will have to focus now on NCR which according to its own data Covid cases are still on the rise, and let LGUs manage the anti-Covid campaign.
The bigger question however is, are the LGUs ready to perform well given the facts that many of them are poorly-equipped in anti-disaster planning and management, as excellent fund magicians are driven by the vested interests of local political figures and political dynasties?
In the course of this localization, who can guide, check and discipline the performance of LGUs given the persistent reports that not a few law enforcers and local government operations officers (LGOOs) of DILG, including a number of Local Development Councils (LDCs) and Barangay-Based Institutions (BBIs), are crooks and beholden to local chief executives and political dynasties.
It is in this regard that the national government must ensure the policy, technical and adequate fund support, monitoring and likewise provision for appropriate penalties for the LGUs as guarantee for the effective localization of the anti-Covid campaign.
The Local Government Code provisions on participatory governance should likewise be invoked to remind the LGUs of the CSOs, POs, NGOs, health professionals and social movements role in the battles against disasters, social problems and the realization of the aspirations and demands of the citizens.
But who will check and discipline national government officials who may have enforced anti-people and anti-development policies, regulations and activities?
Meanwhile. the World Health Organization (WHO) and the big
pharmaceuticals have repeatedly declared with apparent imposing authority that this pandemic would last for 18 months to one year. The WHO authorized vaccines will be out during the period, so they predicted with ease.
For now the so-called new normal characterized by impositions and
suspension of citizens rights, will continue and be strictly followed under the supervision of the state’s Martial law-like machinery.
For now, I strongly encourage the CSOs, POs, NGOs, civic clubs and their networks, academic institutions and professional clubs, not to wait for government calls and actions, but initiate new forms of solidarity and unified actions to put up strong and effective mechanisms to ensure that LGUs and national government perform right, well and good, and that the citizens’ rights are always safeguarded and promoted at all times.