THIS is how I described succinctly the conduct of Bacolod City Government vis-a-vis Covid pandemic and the crisis and its debilitating impact on governance, local economy and state of life of the people, and of other little things knocking at the new government center.
My lead title is actually a famous quote from the late Mao Zedong, the founding chairman of the Communist Party of China (CPC) that catapulted the entire continent of China into a socialist republic, who alluded it to the many complicated tasks that confronted then the CPC party cadres to advance their protracted struggles against feudalism, fascism, colonialism and imperialism.
In playing the piano, all ten fingers are in motion; it will not do to move some fingers only and not others. However, if all ten fingers press down at once, there is no melody. To produce good music, the 10 fingers should move rhythmically and in coordination.
Mayor Bing Leonardia does not make all the decisions, direction and supervision all by himself. He ensures that all units under his executive office, and those under the legislative and legal offices, put all their fingers on the right key boards at the right time following the timing of the baton of the chief executive. Sometimes, there may be some seconds delay or some pressing wrong keyboards, but corrective measures are drawn on time to produce harmonious melody.
The public knows that Mayor Bing has also a core of researchers, strategists, tacticians and planners who draw with him timely assessment of objective and subjective conditions, continuous fine-tuning of implementing plans and programs, and always moving forward his best steps to meet goals and targets.
This explains how Mayor Bing and his team effectively adjusted from the difficult, trial and error, push and pull conduct in the early phases of the worst crisis it ever confronted, the Covid pandemic, to a more scientific, evidence-based, logical and sensical approach to the pandemic crisis.
From the more reactive, blinkered, restrained and militaristic responses (relying heavily on lockdowns and police-military enforcement) in the early phases of the pandemic crisis, it steadily moved to a more logical and sensical, pro-active, communitarian, compassionate responses.
Today, Mayor Bing and his team play the piano well in dealing with all the aspects and facets of the pandemic crisis, giving emphasis on easing the quarantine for different sectors to recoup from crisis, address relief and rehab needs of the economic sectors, while enforcing local and national health protocols.
Bacolod City Government was not alone in its troubles in confronting a crisis it had never confronted or managed before. Hundreds other LGUs were even in worse condition; some LGUs’ responses were panicky, giving too little and too late, others more chaotic and destructive, many turned more militaristic, and a few just fairly laudable.
Himamaylan City Mayor Tongson was coincidentally as open, flexible, compassionate and team player as Mayor Bing, so much that he quickly learned to respond more effectively and comprehensively to the pandemic crisis, often personally leading the frontliners in urban and rural communities.
The recent statements of NIATF officials and Cabinet Secretary Nograles that among the LGUs especially highly urbanized cities (HUC) and component cities Bacolod is leading the fight against covid pandemic maybe true and commendable.
It appears that Bacolod City is still far from normal, or new normal, or whatever, but the city government has learned its lessons well, now focusing on essentials, and has honed its capacity to deal comprehensively the crisis and all challenges that go with it.
With its close coordination with the NIATF, RIATF, DOH, and the DILG, it is certain the City Government will make further headways in the fight against Covid pandemic.
What also appears important elements in the city’s fight is the full and effective cooperation and support of the citizens, especially the CSOs, POs, NGOs and the private corporate institutions.
And not the least, the understanding, patience, civility and support as well of groups and personalities who may have political ambitions in conflict with the city government leadership.
Now is the time to have more reasons to unite, than to part ways and advance ambitions and vested interests.