NOT fun. Not funny either. There was just a confusion in the message relay. The communicators’ communique has not been deciphered properly by the receivers... or perhaps somewhere there was obscurity.
Anyway, that was over. Let us move forward and set aside the blame game. If there was puzzlement, let us charge that to experience and learn from it. This bright idea to contain Covid-19 in Bacolod and the province was conceptualized by our top leaders... former congressman Albee Benitez, Governor Bong Lacson and Mayor Bing Leonardia. Few of my friends say that it is Al-Bong-Bing strategy.
Governor Lacson signed Executive Order No. 20-42 declaring a “Timeout Weekend” in the cities of Talisay, Silay, Bago and the Municipality of Murcia. Mayor Leonardia signed also Executive Order No. 5 (but two days later was lifted) declaring “Four-day No Movement” based on “O-Plan: One Time, Big Time.” Some residents took this as a timely move to fight Covid-19 effectively but groans were also heard from the business sector.
There was a request letter sent to the National Interagency Task Force (NITF) for the implementation of this “so-called lockdown” but the request was not approved. That could be the reason why there was perplexity. Some remained calm. Some started their own interpretation. Some were theatrically angry.
The chief executives in the local government units (LGUs) concerned made the clarification after having a consultation with Governor Bong and in Bacolod City Mayor Bing had his own elucidation and Vice Mayor El Cid as the task force chairman was quick in addressing concerns. Others said that the reaction was a bit delayed. The process of message transmission has also its own “brownout”.
The event created sub-plots in the grassroots. There were those who panicked and some who went into buying. Those who flooded the public markets and grocery stores last Thursday have money. Those who panic have no money to buy. The psyche of the Filipinos who have money is to store goods during a calamity. Those who have no money pray for miracles to happen.
I live on the farm and my house has a small backyard planted with malunggay and papayas. I did not panic but I was surprised when the lady delivering my monthly grocery items appeared in my front door that Thursday morning with a big basket containing assorted items. “Sir, I bring these for you because there is a four-day lockdown. You can pay me later.” I did not panic. She panicked.
The Municipality of Toboso sent a picture in the social media showing sacks of rice and packages containing assorted goods ready for distribution. Toboso’s mayor has a boy scout mentality, “Laging Handa.” That could be good and Toboso is not even identified as LGU included in the lockdown.
As part of the “Timeout Weekend,” there is the free Covid-19 mass testing for the Negrosanons in the identified LGUs and Bacolod City. Many have voluntarily come to the testing area. There are those who are still having inhibitions.
There are questions at the back of their minds. “If I turn out to be positive, shall I be quarantined at my very small home, and who will give me food because I am the breadwinner? Is the government going to support my family for fourteen days? If I am sent to the quarantine center what shall I do there? I cannot even imagine how a quarantine facility looks like. If my symptoms are severe and I will be confined in the hospital, who will pay the expenses? I am afraid to be subjected to a ventilator.”
In Bacolod, we see the arrival of the president’s men headed by a former general (not a doctor) to assess our general health problem for the general welfare of the people who are generally afraid of the Covid-19 community transmission. There is also the arrival of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) medical augmentation team with their medical packages to assist public and private hospitals. Thanks for the general concern.
There is doubt, fear and ignorance that lurk in the hearts and minds of our people. The authority should not just focus on health protocol violators but also on the economic survival of the community, on creating home-based livelihood and on adopting long-term policies to anticipate more concerns before the flattening of the pandemic. Be reminded always of grandfather’s advice, “before you hit the nail with a hammer, think of the best way to do it and anticipate the consequence.”