LGU-IATFs take over war vs. COVID-19

By Ermin Garcia Jr.

 

IT’S been only three days since the General Community Quarantine was announced and we are already seeing a number of residents leaving their homes without their face masks, residents congregating by the road.  I saw this along Pantal Road in Dagupan City Friday morning on my way to my editorial office. This is already happening in many neighborhoods in the province.

It’d appear that the barangay officialdoms have already completely abandoned the campaign to keep their respective jurisdictions COVID-free. Back to the old days of complacency.

Pangasinan officials should remind their constituents that the declaration of GCQ as maximum quarantine level in the country is largely to open and restore the economy, not to take COVID-19 out of our daily life existence.

Then, it’d be good for the province to see Guv Pogi react proactively. He can start by organizing Barangay COVID Marshals in all barangays whose main duty is to see to the compliance of the set of health protocols in all neighborhoods.

Additionally, before numbers of cases spike drastically, it’d be good for Guv Spines to convene a provincial summit for mayors and barangay kapitans separately for a reorientation in the campaign vs. COVID-19 on the premise – the burden and responsibility to fight the pandemic now lies with them, no longer the national IATF!

The provincial, city/municipal IATFs have to take full control or fall behind all others.

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BACK TO BASICS.  The national IATF has already done whatever it could to flatten the curve, it is now up to the local governments to sustain the momentum.

To do this, it’s imperative for Guv Pogi to establish its primary line of defense with ‘Back to Basics’ approach. It means spelling out uniform basic functions and guidelines with the full participation of all stakeholders in local governance to effectively manage the pandemic from their level, to wit:   

1. What city/municipal and barangay ordinances must be put in place to ensure continued enforcement of health protocols in downtown/poblacion areas, public areas in barangays.
2. How to sustain information about capacity status of private and public hospitals.
3. How to develop networking between barangays for use of facilities, i.e., ambulances, clinics, etc.
4. Define lines of accountability, missions and coordination between and among municipal/city departments and local IATF.  
5. When to consider varying lockdowns while keeping local economy surging.
6. Where and how to designate isolation facilities and provide uniform protection and support for medical health workers, both public and private.
7.  How to supervise education of children for blended distance learning in compliance with health protocols.
8. What contingency plans to prepare to address dengue, flu etc. 

These are some basic concerns that can keep the COVID-19 contagion checked and protect our communities.

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LIM ADMINISTRATION PRIORITIES. There appears to be a consistent policy being considered by the Lim administration in prioritizing projects in the city as gleaned from projects launched and implemented so far in Dagupan City.

There was the colorful lighting of the city last Christmas, particularly the two main bridges. This was followed by the repainting of all electric posts with blue and orange colors of the Lim administration to cover those of the Belen colors.

Construction and distribution of specially-designed platforms in the market ostensibly to comply with social distancing protocol. Installation of tarpaulins in rest areas for bicycle riders.

Next, the renovation of the Dagupan Astrodome!

What do these have in common? These need private contractors, not services of city hall employees. Why? Because private contractors readily provide 30% kickback of contracts in exchange for overpriced contracts.

Gone are the ‘people projects’ that engage communities aimed at improving their lot, whether for community or personal health or livelihood support.

I thought the COVID-19 pandemic would provide the Lim administration the opportunity to be creative and relevant in promoting social and public services, instead it became an opportunity for the city government to be reclusive.

Where is the spirit of Jaycee leadership that we thought would push the city forward?

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DISPLAY OF IGNORANCE. The recent eccentric response of Mayor Brian Lim to the resolution of the city council, was at the very least arrogant and ignorant. Rejecting the city council’s idea of exercising oversight function in the handling of the COVID crisis was totally out of line. How can helping in the enforcement of city ordinances relevant to the campaign vs. COVID-19 be seen as usurpation of power?

The executive and legislative branches are always expected to cooperate, collaborate and coordinate for good governance. But in that instance, Mayor Brian showed his ineptness and ineffectual understand of governance, in spite of his being a past World President of Jaycees, and a former city councilor.  

He was being over zealous and protective of his duties as mayor that he obviously thought that a rejection of the resolution seeking to work with city was correct, in accordance with the principle of separate functions between the executive and legislative. That response could only apply in college student councils and civic organizations where the president doesn’t have to take advice from his subordinates.

Surprisingly, his closest adviser, former SP minority leader Red Erfe-Mejia failed him big time by allowing his mayor to act in his ignorant best. Worse, even his city administrator Vlad Mata, himself a former councilor, failed to see the relevance of the resolution citing “oversight function”.

What’s happening at the city hall?? Na-quarantine din yata lahat ng utak nila! 

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