Response vs reaction

We have a choice. We can either respond or we can react to what is before us. Last week was undoubtedly a week full of good examples of people responding positively, of government officials moving and acting and showing that we have a responsive government. Sadly, last week was also a week full of the worst possible example of people reacting to their situations and challenges in the most negative and even self-destructive manner.

As far as good things go, the officials of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases proved that government was responsive to constructive criticism, positive suggestions and helpful ideas. I can only attest to what I have personal knowledge of and I now share how I wrote about the predicament of senior citizens who were being prevented from going to supermarkets or palengkes. When I saw no immediate reaction to my column, I reached out to Senator Bong Go, Secretary Martin Andanar and Secretary Mon Lopez by text. The first to respond was Sen. Go who said he would look into it. After 30 minutes Sen. Go texted a message from DTI Usec. Ruth Castelo saying: “Yes, Sir. We are drafting the memo”. Two days later a general memorandum was circulated and Secretary Lopez and Andanar were busy announcing and clarifying the memorandum that not only allowed senior citizens to shop for necessities, it also required groceries and supermarkets to assign special express and bulk lanes for senior citizens only.

A day after that, one of my friends reached out for help because her cousin’s German husband had died, their embassy required a death certificate and a police report, all of which required an autopsy report. Given the ECQ and the state of shock of the family, the family could not even move from their residence. I reached out to General Guillermo Eleazar who is the ground commander for the ECQ, he in turn called the Mandaluyong Police Chief as well as Mayor Menchie Abalos who in spite of being under preventive quarantine made the necessary moves to help the family of the departed German national. The Mandaluyong PNP immediately emailed the necessary police report while Mayor Menchie’s office called on Funeraria Quiogue to facilitate the required services.

As the week came to a close, I received a couple of text messages from meat vendors and suppliers from Mindanao and Leyte complaining about how pre-Covid-19 roadblocks have prevented the shipment and entry of meat to pass through Southern Leyte because of ASF. The raisers and vendors complained that the roadblock in Southern Leyte dismissed or refused to honor clearance certificates from the NMIS or National Meat Inspection Service. While the roadblock may have served to prevent the entry of ASF into Leyte province, some people suspect that it also helped the big farms owned by several politicians to corner the market. I’ve learned that no less than Secretary William Dar was trying to sit down and talk to the concerned officials but they could not be reached. Once again, I referred the matter to the IATF officials and Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya promised to look into the matter. A few minutes later Secretary Mon Lopez commented that such a situation was unacceptable and he would also ask for the DILG to step in.

All of the above are just a drop in the bucket of positive responses that many cabinet members have done. If you have paid close attention to movement on the ground, you can see, the DSWD Secretary Bautista breaking his media silence and publicly explaining and reassuring the poorest of the poor that they will soon get their money and some have already have. I was pleasantly surprised when Secretary Lito Galvez turned on his phone and filled in the blanks for viewers of AGENDA on Cignal TV, all the while driving and walking into the Rizal memorial coliseum to set-up one of the many quarantine facilities they are setting up before we reached a real outbreak of COVID-19 PUIs and PUMs. Most of the cabinet members are actively visible on the ground, and the few that have appeared on a “Limited Engagement” are only doing so because they are not part of the IATF, there is no call or need to be visible because it would distract the media and the public and last but not the least they are also high risk individuals with several comorbidities due to age.

Just a reminder, if you can’t donate – you could facilitate. 

Now, let’s talk about reactions. Whether they like it or not, a number of our Senators are being called out for being invisible, for not sharing their enormous wealth, for hardly doing anything, etc. All this of course is from the frustration and the sense of helplessness that many people in the front lines are experiencing. I’m sure that the Senators are wondering “Why Me?” or “Why Us?”. My guess is because before all of this happened, Senators and Congressmen and Congresswomen were generally the most visible and audible individuals on TV second only to reporters and anchors. You folks were constantly hogging the limelight, wrecking regular programming because of your hearings and inquiries as well as your press conferences.

Then a couple of you decide to start your pressers by challenging the government’s efficiency or use of the funds that only took you two days to pass thru congress. Sorry but that was unexpected. The people who voted for you need PPEs, Face masks, Gloves, 70% ethyl alcohol, food packs, help in getting from one place to another. Not your press releases or limited contributions where you compliment yourselves on social media, most definitely not your opinion and commentary. One month salary donations are nothing given your all expense account paid by taxpayer’s money. Go and donate all that.

You are being called out because: “Much will be demanded from everyone who has been given much, and from the one who has been entrusted with much, even more will be asked” Luke 12:48