PH ECQ Season 2? Not a sequel but a nasty rerun
April 24, 2021
MANILA, Philippines—Contrary to popular belief, this is no season two where there is supposedly a new plot and character development. We’re trapped in a sitcom oozing with poor governance, lack of empathy, and corruption.
The Philippines has been experiencing a tremendous spike in the daily record of COVID-19 cases since the end of March. The highest daily count recorded by far was on April 2, logging in 15,310 new COVID-19 cases. The Department of Health, however, claimed that 3, 709 of those infections were backlogs from March 31.
As a response to the surge in cases, the national government placed Metro Manila, Rizal, Bulacan, Cavite, and Laguna under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) for two weeks, followed by the implementation of a modified enhanced community quarantine as of writing.
Never moving forward
One year into the pandemic, it seems like the only solution the Philippine government has until now is imposing lockdowns instead of implementing mass testing and a reinforced system of contact tracing, partnered with a supposed early vaccine rollout.
According to the global COVID-19 tracker, all countries in the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) region except for Cambodia and the Philippines, have recorded a downward trend in their COVID-19 cases from February 15, 2020, to March 11, 2021.
What do they have that we don’t?
As of April 16, the Philippines still tops the daily record of new infections globally, recording 11, 429 cases per day. The country has breached 900,000 marks in a total number of cases.
Absenteeism: ‘Sinadya ko ‘yun’
After his two-week absence from the public eye, all President Rodrigo Duterte can say is “Sinadya ko ‘yun.” [Translation: I did it on purpose.]
In the middle of the spike in cases, photos of Duterte playing golf and riding his motorcycle at night, circulated on social media. This created a buzz as netizens demanded “proof of competence” rather than “proof of life” from their president.
This happened while both public and private hospitals in Metro Manila and nearby provinces cry for help as they reach critical levels, coupled with a shortage in manpower as more healthcare workers test positive for the virus.
Not to mention that the unemployment has worsened with 4.2 million jobless Filipinos as of February this year, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.
In the face of hunger and death, all the president could say was he was allowed to enjoy his hobbies.
"Kaya ako nakaka-swing ng golf (club), tapos nagmo-motor, kasi kaya ko pa. The problem is you should look into the time I enjoy my hobbies.” [Translation: The reason why I can swing a golf club and ride a motorcycle is that I am still capable of doing it. The problem is you should look into the time I enjoy my hobbies.]
When is Season 2 coming?
This pandemic has clearly revealed what kind of leaders this country has, leaving Filipinos to decide whether or not they approve of this kind of leadership.
The 2022 elections are fast approaching but it is still uncertain if a better sequel awaits the nation. It’s up to you, voters, whether or not this country will witness a new season with better characters, a better plot, and a high audience rating.
