Monday, June 7, 2021

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/

Lobaton: Behind MGCQ and vaccination

Posted: 06 Jun 2021 08:17 AM PDT

IT IS better to be conservative about the current situation than let loose and find yourself becoming the next victim of the coronavirus. As we can see in the data and the situations, it is still not safe.

The modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) in the province and city is not a guaranty that we have been reprieved by the coronavirus. Its attack on individuals is relentless that hospital bed capacities for Covid-19 are already exhausted.

Sunstar's Melinda Pedrosa reported Wednesday last week, citing Dr. Romela Tiples-Ruiz, infectious diseases specialist and president of Philippine Society for Microbiology and Infectious Diseases in Negros Occidental, that based on records of One Hospital Command Center, all Bacolod hospitals have already reached full bed capacity allocated for Covid-19. The report also said that many are waitlisted in these hospitals. Should spaces be available, there are no available health workers because they are either exposed or still in isolation.

The Inquirer also reported that as per data from the Department of Health (DOH) as of June 2, eight of 15 hospitals in Metro Manila that had been on critical status before, are now 100 percent full.

The situation may send a mixed signal and may be construed differently considering that the number of cases every day may be lower than the usual five-digit figures when the new surge happens in Metro Manila.

The simple idea suggests why figures play within the 7,000 per day level, it is because the number of cases in the cities and provinces increased. Iloilo City is one example that requested that it'd be reverted to the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ), which was approved by the National Inter-Agency Task Force. Recent reports said that the city government of Iloilo would be requesting for extension of the MECQ because their health facilities are overwhelmed due to many cases brought to the city from neighboring provinces of Aklan, Antique and even Guimaras.

Our neighbor province, Negros Oriental, is also experiencing increase in its number of cases. The doctors in Dumaguete City called for higher level of quarantine for the city and province, citing as basis the daily attack rate of 8.12, which is higher than 7 or the determinant they are in critical situation.

My home institution, the Carlos Hilado Memorial State College, recently released the advisory on a 12-day freeze and a Stay-at-Home protocol. According to the advisory, the intent was to provide the faculty and staff with the options to address their mental health and wellness and prevent the cycle of local transmission, particularly inside the campus. Our president, Dr. Nomer Mangulabnan, and the vice-president for academic affairs, Dr. Jay Estrellas, had long returned to work after they recovered from Covid-19.

It is to note that while we are in the middle of MGCQ, behind us is the increasing number of cases that require hospital admissions. Though we are partly allowed to move freely, we could hear reports that friends have been tested positive for Covid-19. Subtly, the Covid-19 situations are telling us that behind the relaxed impression, more cases are detected and needs hospitalization.

Secondly, our minds on the vaccine may imply confidence. I knew friends just last week who are now in quarantine or on isolation because they too are positive even they received either the first or second dose of the vaccine.

It is laudable that the city government of Bacolod is doing good in its vaccination activities. The other day the city received additional 10,000 doses of Sinovac from the national government. At least we have our share of fulfilling the desired herd immunity for the Filipinos, which recent data show 1 percent of our total population received two doses.

In case we felt relieved because of the MGCQ and our vaccination, our hospital beds for Covid-19 are full and this is the best reminder that we are not yet off of the hook.

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Maungca: In pursuit of power (Part 2)

Posted: 06 Jun 2021 08:13 AM PDT

Understanding the Terrain

FOR those who have been part of campaigns and movements, a strategy to forward reforms is to target legislators that can be an ally in that certain advocacy. Campaigners also need to understand the political dynamic of the local government and craft a strategic plan to ensure the support of most of their local legislators. If they are generally amenable, it can be done via consequent meetings, but if there are members of the council that are opposing the advocacy, the campaign should be coupled with social media pressure, media activities, taking the old-fashioned parliamentary of the streets, rallying directly to government offices or organized mobilizations, or a combination of such.

Know the shot callers

As a point of experience in being part of campaigns, there is a shorter route to lobby for reform policies and programs. Campaigners need to identify the shot callers of that particular locality. This might be the Mayor or the Governor, or their political handlers. If the advocates are astute and sharp, they should easily understand how to persuade these individuals that hold the reigns of power in their kingdoms. Of course, this will only stand if the majority of the legislators are his/her party mates or allies.

Unfortunately, our pool of elected officials is still dominated by traditional politicians or Trapos as they are famously called. They prey on the poor and the disempowered by perpetuating patronage or personality-based politics. They purposely avoid enacting policies or programs that mean to exact accountability and transparency with how to govern and empower their citizens through mechanisms that would make democracy more accessible and meaningful. There are promising initiatives both in the national and the localities of voter's rights campaign but for as long there are no progressive individuals that would stick out their necks and decide to run, we will ultimately be left to choose between Trapos.

Power needs to be contested by those who want positive change in our society as well, if we become timid and apolitical, it will be left to the hands of those less deserving to lead our country. There is a dire need to infuse new blood into society's lifestream of governance. We can not hope for the ones that perpetuate the status quo to suddenly become progressive, we need to develop and support new champions in our society. We again need to look into the youth for answers.

I named my column Vantage Point in homage to the youth's limitless potential for enacting change through their ideals and pure aspirations towards society. In line with my proposition in my first article, I, too, hope to infuse and contribute new ideas and offer a fresh perspective in the social discussions in society.

As my final thought, I would like to borrow a passage from Jose Rizal's El Filibusterismo:

"Where are the youth who will consecrate their golden hours, their illusions, and their enthusiasm to the welfare of their native land? Where are the youth who will generously pour out their blood to wash away so much shame, so much crime, so much abomination? Pure and spotless must the victim be that the sacrifice may be acceptable! Where are you, youth, who will embody in yourselves the vigor of life that has left our veins, the purity of ideas that has been contaminated in our brains, the fire of enthusiasm that has been quenched in our hearts? We await you, O youth! Come, for we await you!"

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Ombion: Of Baciwa, Ceneco extinction

Posted: 06 Jun 2021 08:13 AM PDT

LOOKS like a bigger "pandemic" is silently choking Bacolodnon and neighboring cities.

The so-called joint venture of Baciwa turns after all like a fraudulent scheme. What is touted as a joint venture of Villar owned Prime Waters and Baciwa turns out a big-time broad daylight hold-up cum privatization.

Prime Waters is now in full and effective control of the administration and operations of Baciwa. Unfortunately, the bigger supply and efficiency of services it promised did not come and looks bleaker now as more water consumers get little or nearly nothing at all, and those who still get water have one that looks sourced from contaminated canals. Worse, rates are bound to increase, insiders opined.

The original Baciwa doesn't exist anymore. It is just a name fronting for Prime Waters, the real operator of the water district.

The Bacolod City government is definitely not in control. It is helpless even if the keyboard officers of Baciwa are City government appointees. The boss chief of the remaining appointed board of directors is no longer the city government but in deeds the Prime Waters.

In condition like this, the only remedy is for city water consumers to petition the President to retake Baciwa by receding the so-called joint venture of Prime Waters and Baciwa or the city government, and turn it into a community-based or cooperative water system amending the PD 198 as amended in 1980.

The question is, can or will the President do it, now that elections are near, and that the billionaire Villars, still an ally of the President's camp, might push the father to run again for any national position?

Looks like legal remedies are narrowing. What are the options?

Oppressed and exploited water consumers may at some point organize a protest movement and forcibly take over operations of "PRIMECIWA" A risky proposition.

Others like some brilliant patriotic out-of-school youth, in tandem with unregistered engineering and science practitioners, may organize a movement and boycott "PRIMECIWA" and establish their own ala community-based water systems (cluster of barangays), to be operated by pure renewable energy system?

There could be more if frustrations reached an uncontrollable level.

My point is simple though not quite. The city government plays a pivotal role in this whole row. And I believe the city government has enough good brains, talents, and experience under the solid trinitarian leadership of Mayor Leonardia, Vice Mayor Familiaran and Cong. Gasataya to find solutions to the problem.

After all, their managing and directing a great Highly Urbanized City (HUC) is no ordinary governance feat and water and power are the top resources that the city government has to have solid control to sustain the growth of the city and earn the endearment of its people through the entire century.

For that, I strongly suggest that somehow the city government, water consumers and Baciwa old guards, and representatives of Prime Waters, should come into real dialogue, in the spirit of one community, one humanity, and chart to work on win-win solutions. As Bacolodnon, mindful of the city's interests first, we can solve our problems by ourselves. No fuss, no muss. No outside vested interest groups needed.

I believe in the power of real dialogue. Wherever in the world, they produce amazing results, beautiful fruits for humanity.

Dialogue for water, one of the two biggest and precious resources on our planet is a dialogue for life.

After all, the PD 198 as amended states in its Declaration of Principles that the creation, operation, maintenance and expansion of reliable and economically viable and sound water supply and wastewater disposal systems for population centers of the Philippines is a national policy of high priority.

And I say the same situation and course of actions on Ceneco problem, now on the edge of extinction, not just privatization, as another hungry power dynasty based in northern districts is hellbent on eliminating all power distributors from north to south and replaced by their own.

Bacolod City government and most sectors behind it have already waved the flag of battle against the greedy landed comprador elites out to impose their will, whims and caprices on the city.

It is high time to make the city battle a real, comprehensive war for sustainable development. That includes defense not only on political seats but over its precious lands, water and energy resources.

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

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