Tag: COVID-19

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On Errors Discovered by the UP Resilience Institute in the DOH’s COVID-19 Patient Data Tracking

Images Courtesy: UP Resilience Institute Facebook page

Data accuracy is key to correct and sound decision-making. This is an age-old tenet in management which is not only logical but simple enough.

Whether inadvertently committed or otherwise, it is reason enough to make people responsible and accountable. What is abominable is if such act is committed deliberately in pursuit of some selfish reasons or interests.

The COVID-19 pandemic involves people’s lives, and to a large extent, their livelihoods. That said, there is no room for officials who, because of sheer incompetence or corrupt thinking, will endanger our lives that we practically entrust to them.

This is not the first time that the DOH leadership is being challenged to prove itself – or leave their posts if they cannot be up to the job.

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On the Proposed Mass Hiring of Contact Tracers

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, one of the few sensible souls in the Cabinet, has proposed to prioritize the hiring of contact tracers en masse to boost efforts to stop transmission and provide jobs to stimulate the economy through spending.

Contact tracing is a key first step in addressing the COVID-19 threat. It should provide the baseline data or reference on who to test. Without it, our mass testing will be like shooting at the moon or running around like headless chickens.

Kung maipapatupad ang mungkahing ito nang maayos, maaari nating lutasin agad ang dalawang problema.

Ang bagay na ito ay nasa kamay na ng liderato ng Department of Health: Maiimplementa kaya nila ang mungkahi ni Secretary Dominguez?

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#PINGterview: Mensahe sa Mga Pasaway sa Quarantine; Testing at Contact Tracing, Kulang Pa Rin!

In an interview on DZRH, Sen. Lacson answered questions on:
* post-ECQ scenarios [1:01]
* continued lack of testing, contact tracing [2:46]
* Senate teleconferencing due to COVID-19 [12:59]
* Pagcor allowing reopening of POGO [21:48]
* mensahe sa mga pasaway [28:21]

NOTES and QUOTES:
 Continue reading “#PINGterview: Mensahe sa Mga Pasaway sa Quarantine; Testing at Contact Tracing, Kulang Pa Rin!”

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On Age-Based Restriction in COVID-19 Quarantine

Many senior citizens are far healthier and have stronger immune systems than their younger counterparts. To indiscriminately prohibit them from going out of their homes is not only arbitrary. It is downright insensitive.

Just to give credence to my argument: Ang ibang male Senate staff ko nga na di hamak na mas bata kesa sa akin, hindi makasabay sa akin pag gumagamit ako ng stairs paakyat sa sixth floor office ko. Yung iba naman, laging may sipon at laging uubo-ubo. Samantalang ako, laging malakas ang immune system.

Did those behind such a blanket age-based restriction think the idea through thoroughly? If they think they did, they should have their heads examined first by Dr. Clarita Avila – the chief administrative officer of the National Center for Mental Health who was gagged before being “demoted” and reassigned to the Drug Abuse Treatment and Rehabilitation Center in Las Piñas City by authority of the Secretary of Health, for issuing updates on the COVID-19 situation in the facility – before coming out with inconsiderate ideas like this latest one.

The Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases may need to rethink this policy such that it does not impose unfair restrictions on seniors, especially those who are physically fit. The dire question is: When will we see other sweeping and irrational moves?

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Arrogance Has No Place in Implementation of the ECQ

During these trying times, the Philippine National Police has the unenviable task of implementing an Enhanced Community Quarantine, without fear or favor. For the most part, our policemen deserve kudos for doing their jobs.

Such is the case of police officers who arrested a foreigner in Makati City, after he challenged their authority with an arrogant and demeaning behavior. As if this were not enough, the police officers were subjected to unfair criticisms from netizens who saw the “edited” version of the video.

On the other hand, being an “investor with 80 employees” as he claimed does not give the foreigner the right to confront and incessantly berate a police officer who is merely performing a risky duty in the manner that he did.

The Bureau of Immigration may have to look into the matter. If a deportation proceeding is in order, they should act swiftly and decisively.

Arrogance has no place in our country – especially so in a situation where either all of us win, or all of us lose to the COVID-19 threat.

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