From People’s Tonight: As Lacson said, let’s do our part in thwarting the spread of the virus even in our own little way.

Act of responsibility

March 29, 2020
People’s Tonight

EVERYBODY agrees that in many countries including impoverished Philippines, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is, without doubt, a frightening sight.

And these countries continue to come up with extra-ordinary and even drastic measures, like limiting the movement of people, which are aimed at stopping the spread of the deadly virus.

In the Philippines, Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson wants the ordinary people or the “man on the street” infected with COVID-19 to voluntarily and publicly disclose their health condition.

If their identities are made public voluntarily, those who they directly got in contact with can come forward to be tested and treated if found positive for COVID-19.

Certainly, this is aimed at making contact-tracing easier and faster, according to Lacson, a former chief of the Philippine National Police and a graduate of the elite Philippine Military Academy.

In calling on the ordinary citizens to practice that “selfless act” of responsibility to society, the policeman-turned-senator underscored the importance of halting the spread of the dreaded virus.

Lacson aired the call knowing full well that the Data Privacy Act of 2012 or Republic Act (RA) No. 10173 protects the right to privacy and non-disclosure of medical records of patients.

Likewise, the soft-spoken but highly-articulate senator from Cavite explained that the controversial RA No. 11055 or the Philippine Identification System Act is still not ready for implementation.

We can concede that some people with COVID-19 may not be willing to disclose their health condition, fearing discrimination.

But as Lacson said, let’s do our part in thwarting the spread of the virus even in our own little way.