Editorial: Politicians must stop acting like scientists

SOME politicians have the tendency to shower their constituents with motherhood statements to make them feel good about their current situation, and some of them also talk like they are experts even if they are not.

Now that the national elections are less than a month from now, it is a must for politicians running for various elective posts to make promises and speak feel-good statements that could attract votes.

In Cebu City, Mayor Michael “Mike” Rama is running in the May 9, 2022 polls. He is seeking a third term in the mayor’s office, and he is up against outgoing City Councilor David “Dave” Tumulak and former councilor Margarita “Margot” Osmeña.

Mayor Rama is not only known for his long career in public service but also for his talkative nature.

And the mayor talks like he is an expert.

That is the problem.

A news report quoted the mayor as saying that Cebu City has already achieved “herd immunity.” His basis for issuing such a statement is the fact that more than 800,000 residents have been vaccinated against the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).

Mayor Rama made the declaration last March 14 when the city was still under Alert Level 2, a quarantine status that ended on March 15. He was optimistic last Monday that Cebu City’s quarantine status would be deescalated to Alert Level 1.

Indeed, Cebu City is now under Alert Level 1, also known as the “new normal,” from March 16 until March 31. The rest of Cebu Province, including the two highly urbanized cities of Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu, are still under Alert Level 2 until the month’s end.

Cebu City and the province of Siquijor are the only two local government units in Central Visayas that are under Alert Level 1. The provinces of Bohol and Negros Oriental are also under Alert Level 2.

One could say that Cebu City’s Alert Level 1 is good news because it could spur more economic activities, and the quarantine status could further pump life into the pandemic-battered local economy. But it is early to say because there is another problem—the increasing oil prices, which could dampen business activities and consumer spending.

Mayor Rama said last Monday that his decisions, including the issuance of the “Oplan Kagawasan (Freedom)” last Feb. 24, have “always been based on science.”

The problem with Mayor Rama declaring Cebu City has achieved herd immunity is that he’s no scientist. Does Dr. Mary Jean Loreche, a pathologist, agree with his declaration?

The problem with a herd immunity declaration is that it was delivered by a politician courting votes.