Tag: editorial

As bad news travels fast on social media, the Provincial COVID-19 Task Force surely hopes that the reality of the coronavirus in our midst would make Catandunganons think twice about going out and mixing with other members of the public.

Take some time to read the following excerpt from an opinion piece in a recent issue of the Daily Mirror, a national daily tabloid in the United Kingdom: “Without journalism, coronavirus would kill more people. Take a moment to think about what the world would be without us.” For a government to order its constituents to stay at home, it needed the media to communicate to the nation the seriousness of the message.

Barangay captains in the capital town of Virac who initiated last week’s meeting at Plaza Rizal to discuss issues related to the Enhanced Community Quarantine that they are implementing in their respective villages should be commended for their effort.

Two incidents last week vividly illustrated why Acting Governor Shirley Abundo is growing increasingly frustrated at the way the battle to keep COVID-19 at bay is being fought in the municipalities.

Since January when the Wuhan coronavirus began to spread from China, the provincial government, particularly the Provincial Health Office (PHO) in coordination with the Department of Health (DOH), had been busy establishing a protocol to be followed once the virus arrives in the country. Among these protocols is what to do in case of travelers from areas where local transmission of COVID-19 has been confirmed.

The resulting exchange of views soon turned up the fact that some members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan charged certain projects to the Calamity Fund without the knowledge of the PDRRMO or the council itself.

Last Friday, Tacorda unenviably made it to the pages of Philippine history when he became the first man to be convicted of a failed extra-judicial killing.

Sure, the system now in place does not guarantee 100 percent that someone carrying the virus cannot pass through the screening procedures but at least it would allow the government to easily contain the patient and the persons he or she had contact with and prevent the virus’ spread.

But, the important question is whether the present Congress, whose great hall is occupied by political turncoats and members of political dynasties, approve those very same amendments that would lead to their members’ political demise?