Make that sacrifice, stay home

By Leonardo Micua

 

SHORTLY after PNP chief, Director General Debold Sinas, warned that partygoers during the Christmas season will be arrested as one of the measures to contain the spread of COVID-19, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III had reported that COVID-19 cases are again starting to surge in some parts of the country, which unfortunately include Region 1.

For all you know, these two developments appear to be co-related. Didn’t health experts, among them from UP OCTA, make that dire warning to brace for the sudden surge of COVID-19 cases after the Christmas holidays? And yet, here we are still just only eight days before Christmas as we were writing this piece, and the feared surge of coronavirus cases had already begun.

For once in our lifetime, we should listen to the authorities and forego Christmas parties, please.  There is no harm if we do not host and attend Christmas parties this year. It is a supreme sacrifice that we must make because it is for our own good. Besides, if we don’t heed the warning of the head of the PNP, we will run the risk of being arrested and being hailed to court.

PNP Chief Sinas was certainly not joking when he made that stern warning to Christmas partygoers. Statistics already show that recorded infections were caused by local viral transmission all because people disregarded the health and safety protocols – they did not no wear face masks and face shields and violated social distancing rules on top of poor hygiene.

Expect our policemen to gate-crash Christmas parties to enforce the approved healthy and safety protocols upon receipt of a report from neighbors.

The COVID-19 vaccine may not arrive till the first quarter to early second quarter of next year, so it is incumbent on us to stay healthy by not going to parties or attending gatherings where a multitude of people are expected – if we love our own selves and our families.

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Shown on social media is the anticipated mass at the Pangasinan provincial capitol online every afternoon attended by just a motley group of capitol employees while all other employees stay in their offices to hear mass via the web.

It is indeed still observing our Christmas tradition without violating the social distancing rules in their respective offices.

The COVID-19 Christmas activities at the capitol this year are somber but nevertheless meaningful. On order of Governor Pogi Espino, even the traditional Christmas programs for employees and the local media have been cancelled. Even Christmas decors at the capitol building and its premises are scant and without the usual glittering spectacle. 

In contrast, while the provincial government wisely held back on spending precious cash to exacerbate the already gloomy COVID-19 situation, Dagupan City government had the gall to spend a whooping P3.8 millions of people’s money just for Christmas lights alone. 

PIO Butch Velasco told us that Gov. Pogi preferred simple Christmas decors over sparkling illuminations that will attract streams of people to gather at the capitol grounds every night just to take selfies by the glowing colors of the Yuletide, violating the social distancing protocol. 

Merry Christmas to one and all!

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Only nine days in office P/Colonel Ronald Gayo, the new police provincial director of Pangasinan, deemed it urgent to appear during the virtual session of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan on December 14 without awaiting an invitation from that august body.

He was the first PD in Pangasinan to do so, observed Fourth District Board Member Ming Rosario, adding that all other previous designated heads of the Pangasinan police usually came to the SP months after assuming their posts when they already can show some noteworthy accomplishments.

This is a sign that P/Colonel Gayo and the SP will be working together pretty well on matters affecting peace and security, particularly in the fight against crimes, illegal drugs, illegal gambling and most specifically in the fight against COVID-19.

Being home-grown and true-blue Ilocano from Laoac town, he has full grasp of the problems in Pangasinan and could institute meaningful solutions at the drop of a hat.

Congratulations and welcome, Colonel Gayo.

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