‘Class marginalization’ in crisis like Covid-19

 BEHIND THE SCENES

Alfred P. Dizon

BAGUIO CITY -- “Responding to a crisis like this in ways that only serve the upper class is bound to backfire and fail. A government asked to serve the public must serve all of the public.”

These were the words of journalist Gaby Baizas on the government’s response to Covid-19 even as the number of afflictions keep going higher by the day.

Take the case of not allowing public transport vehicles to roam the streets and deliver passengers to their destinations. In Baguio alone, when the directive was announced we have been asked by some acquaintances to ferry them home.

Call it class marginalization, but those who have private cars can use them to go to their destinations unlike public vehicles who cannot. There are more people who don’t have vehicles and it was heart-wrenching seeing people walking the streets to go home.

They were caught off-guard when the law was suddenly implemented Monday. There were mothers carrying their babies while carrying food supplies with the other arm.

On social media, dialysis patients were crying for help in going to hospitals to have their treatment or they would die. Medical workers were not in hospitals for lack of vehicles to go to work.

These were among complaints of those who didn’t have cars.

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Despite these, the Dept. of Justice on March 17, defended the decision of the Philippine National Police to arrest public transport drivers and impound their public utility vehicles for continuing to operate in defiance of measures under the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine.

“We should note that the guidelines on the enhanced community quarantine suspended temporarily the operation of mass public transport facilities,” Justice DOJ Spokesperson and Undersecretary Mark Perete said. “The suspension is meant to minimize mobility and prevent mass transmission of the disease.”

Perete warned those who defy the enhanced community quarantine measures face charges of resistance and disobedience to a person in authority under Article 151 of the Revised Penal Code, among others.

Meanwhile, PNP Chief Gen. Archie Gamboa said he will also ask the Land Transportation Franchising. Regulatory Board to issue an order instructing all transport operators that their operations are currently suspended because of the enhanced community quarantine.

“Remember, in the hands of an operator, a franchise to operate is a privilege saddled with conditions, among them compliance with lawful orders of the state,” he said.

Perete said transport operators could face suspension of their franchises should they violate such an LTFRB order.

“Action against the franchise becomes important since operators may force their drivers to continue plying routes,” he said. “The possible cancellation, etc. of the franchise could deter operators from doing so.”

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On Monday Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri announced his testing positive for the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), President Rodrigo Duterte ordered an enhanced community quarantine in the whole of Luzon to stem the tide of the deadly scourge.

The term was the government’s designated word for an “absolute lockdown or a total lockdown,” descriptions which came from presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo.

“It means absolute lockdown or a total lockdown,” Panelo said. “It means that all persons will be subjected to strict home quarantine.”

The Palace mouthpiece said no movement will be allowed, including transportation, except for those of frontline health workers, authorized government officials and transport of basic services and necessities.

President Rodrigo Duterte, in his formal announcement last night, said the threat of the virus is real. He cited the increasing number of cases in the country which has risen to 140 with a death toll of 12, still low, he said but could exponentially rise if left unchecked.

The Chief executive called on the public to heed authorities and follow the law in this time of emergency.

“Stricter measures are necessary. That is why I am placing the entire island of Luzon in enhanced community quarantine until April 12, 2020 coinciding with the entire end of the Holy week,” Duterte said.

The President said the measure is not a form of martial law, as critics are insinuating, saying there is no invasion, whatsoever.

“There is nothing to fear. We are all soldiers in this fight against the deadly virus,” Duterte said.

He urged big businesses to think of ways of how to ease the burden of displaced workers, including the early release of 13th month pays for the duration of the quarantine.

He also called on the communist rebels to refrain from “touching” his soldiers who are all in the fight against the dreaded virus.

“Ceasefire muna tayo. Huwag niyo munang galawin ang mga sundalo. (Do not touch the soldiers. Let’s have a ceasefire first) I will repay you later with a good heart,” he said.

The new order superseded the initial proclamation of a Metro Manila-wide community quarantine on March 14.

Zubiri learned of the bad news Tuesday afternoon from Health Secretary Francisco Duque III.

“My heart sank with what he said but I’m uplifted by the fact that I am asymptomatic and have no fever or cough nor I am weak or have any headaches,” Zubiri said in a statement.

He added the decision to self-quarantine last March 12 after session was the best decision he made and could have protected his family from contamination.

“This just goes to show how easily this virus is spread and therefore it is best for everyone to stay home and stay clean. As for me I will stay locked in isolation for 10 more days until I get checked once again with hopefully a negative result,” he said.

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Chaos and confusion met the implementation of the first order on March 15 and 16, with commuters and public transportation generally failing to heed the details of the quarantine rules.
“PRRD just announced an enhanced community quarantine in the entire Luzon,” Panelo said in a statement.

Based on Section 3 of the directive, a “Community Quarantine is hereby imposed over the entire National Capital Region. Local government units shall abide by the directives of the Department of Health and the Department of the Interior and Local Government in the imposition of general and enhanced community quarantine in their respective jurisdictions.

“Under the enhanced community quarantine, strict home quarantine shall be implemented in all households; transportation shall be suspended; provision for food and essential health services shall be regulated and heightened presence of uniformed personnel to enforce quarantine procedures will be implemented,” the directive read.

Afterwards, the whole of Luzon was added to the quarantine order.

Malacañang said it was open to the idea of putting all confirmed cases into one place including those who are still being monitored.

“We are recommending that there should only one place where we can put all those confirmed cases. There is a need to do this as there will be not enough hospitals to take care all of the patients.
Panelo disclosed that food and essential needs will be delivered to homes courtesy of the local government units.

In the Cordillera, as in other parts of Northern Luzon, there were still no food deliveries at press time.  

There was also be heightened presence of uniformed personnel in quarantined areas to ensure compliance.

“It means we will have to stay at home. Work will be suspended. There is suspension of work. The general rule is, there is suspension of work,” Panelo said.

A skeleton force will render work in government offices.

“When you say there is quarantine in your homes, it means you don’t need to travel. You don’t need transportation for that except only for medical and humanitarian reasons. They will be allowed to go home,” Panelo said.

Problem until, now, there were still no vehicles to ferry the masses home although some local government units tried to solve the problem by hiring shuttle buses.