" Here is what lawmakers Defensor and Marcoleta allege."
The other day, the people behind the QC Ivermectin Initiative beamed with pride as they announced a drastic reduction of Covid-19 cases in Matandang Balara, where the Ivermectin Initiative kicked off last April 30. According to Anakalusugan Rep. Mike Defensor, COVID-19 cases dropped from 138 cases in April 29 to 39 cases as of May 24, as attested by Barangay Health Emergency Response Team in the said barangay.
The significant decline of COVID-19 cases in that particular area, according to Defensor, is a tremendous achievement in the fight against covid and further bolsters our appeal to undertake mass distribution to our people that Dr. Rafael Castillo, one of the prescribing doctors in the QC distribution event, described the development as something short of a successful endeavor. He said “the reduction in active cases in Matandang Balara from April 29 to May 22 is 57.2 percent compared to just 34.2 percent in the rest of District 3 excluding Matandang Balara; and 48 percent in District 2,” as it has yet to be documented properly.
However, Defensor, along with Deputy Speaker Rodante Marcoleta, his partner in the Ivermectin Initiative, felt their efforts were betrayed by no less than the Quezon City government when it reportedly asked residents of Matandang Balara to line up for their own version of a community pantry. Around six thousand people showed up for their share of a bag of rice, a piece of bread and a bottle of water. But the sad part is, COVID health protocols were violated as no social distancing was observed. Some did not even wear face shields. A picture of Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, who claims she had tested positive twice for the virus, showed she was without a face shield.
“Yesterday, May 25, 2021 , a report once again reached our respective offices regarding an ‘ayuda’ distribution in Matandang Old Balara, Quezon City. It may be recalled that sometime in April 30, we launched an ivermectin distribution in Barangay Matandang Balara, where residents were prescribed by doctors and were given free ivermectin. We followed up our efforts by focusing on locked down areas by giving ivermectin for prevention and early cure,” Defensor and Marcoleta stated in their joint statement. “We are now saddened, once again, for the seemingly callous attitude undertaken by the Local Government Unit in undertaking ‘another’ reckless event which would surely be a covid super spreader in Barangay Matandang Balara,” the two solons said.
“Hindi na ba tayo nadala? Paulit ulit na lang parati ang ganitong klaseng pamimigay mula pa sa ‘Social Amelioration Program’ distribution, Tupad, at maging ayuda sa gamot at pagkain. Pwede namang ibahay-bahay yan para hindi nagkakasalu-salo at dikitan sa lugar na siguradong kakalat ang sakit na covid. Wala pang isang buwan nakaraan nangyari na ito sa pamimigay ng 1,000 pesos ayuda. Nasa lahat ng media reports ito. Ngayon naulit na naman,” they lamented. Of course they could have distributed their ayuda by going house-to-house. They have done that before. In fact, in one instance, Belmonte was even caught on camera getting her cue to hand a bag of goodies to a Quezon city resident in one of her ayuda distribution. They are also doing it in Pasig. Why the need for a lengthy program to dramatize distribution of the ayuda?
Defensor and Marcoleta hit the nail on the head when they said that “the crisis the pandemic has brought us really requires the highest form of altruism, especially among public servants, to address the dire needs of the citizenry. But one must ensure that one’s good intentions do not unwittingly cause more harm.” While gathering several thousand people to give them food assistance is a laudable intention, the potential to spread the virus is also high, the two point out. “One should think of better ways to give the assistance in a much safer manner, without compromising the established health protocols. Government-initiated activities like Joy’s ayuda, according to the two solons, also highlight inconsistencies in the government’s enforced policies.
“We hastily sanction and close resorts for allowing a few hundred visitors in a much bigger open space; yet, we make thousands of people congregate in a limited area while waiting for their food basket,” the two lawmakers pointed out. Being government officials, the two say the more they are expected to be “more cautious and thoughtful in any planned public gatherings.” “As a precaution to avert another possible outbreak, we suggest that everyone who participated in this big gathering should have a nasal swab or at least an antigen test to identify those who may have been infected with the virus,” they suggested. As this was not the first time this has happened, Defensor and Marcoleta are calling on the Department of Interior and Local Govt to look into this and to implement strict disciplinary measures on those responsible for this event.
“Clearly, the recent SAP distribution and the above stated ayuda distribution are clear violations of our health protocols,” they stressed, as letting the event simply pass without sending clear signals to those responsible, “we will continue to see the rise in cases of covid 19 and the policy of lockdowns will be a never-ending cycle.”
We agree with Defensor and Marcoleta that something should be done to prevent this from happening again in the future as the end for the pandemic is still nowhere in sight. As the two lawmakers have stated that giving assistance to the people, whether in cash or in kind is a laudable act, the health and safety of the people should never be compromised. No amount of ayuda can compensate for the lives to be lost in a reckless act like this. It is an event where ironically, the joy of giving won’t bring anymore pleasure, but agony and sorrow for those who might have the misfortune of getting infected.
Did I say it right or should I say it with a capital “J?”