Politics can sometimes be debatable. Common sense, not so much. In the Philippine socio-political sphere, what haunts us the most these days is no longer just diversity in views and principles, but sadly we have plummeted to the inability to grasp basic logic.
In a time where the world suffers a public health crisis and the Philippines is a notorious lead in Southeast Asia, the average person with basic logic could clearly and easily deduce what has to be done — at the least the bare minimum.
The coronavirus has threatened every way of our living, something you do not want to associate to an already third world country.
Jobs and government support have been scarce. No job, obviously equates to no money. No money obviously equates to less food and basic necessities. Lack of basic necessities obviously leads to all forms of difficulty — you know where I am going with this.
The justice system of the Philippines has always been problematically corrupt in theory and in practice, but what has become of our society extends beyond this. We are now at a time when wrongdoings are no longer tactically hidden, but rather bluntly and senselessly paraded to the public. Because we live in a time when obvious is too clearly lain in front of us without the fear of accountability, means we are living in dangerous times.
A very good example of this is our public health system. As we face a pandemic, this is the sector of our public service that is needed more than ever, yet somehow it has gotten worse than it already is.
As the coronavirus (COVID 19) cases in the country continue to spike higher, the obvious course of action is to revamp our health system to ensure its operations are ready to serve and provide health rights to our people — but obvious is not a word we know well in the country.
In the middle of a pandemic, the best action our leaders could think of is to assign someone who bluntly and publicly declared “I’m scared because I don’t know the operations of PhilHealth,” as the incoming chief of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).
This comes on top of an ongoing investigation on PhilHealth executives for alleged corruption worth P15 billion in funds — all in the middle of a pandemic.
Another example of an illogical course of action is the Manila Bay white sand project. The project which was approved in 2019 by Congress, has an allotted budget of P389 million which drew in a strong wave of critics.
Many have claimed that the beautification of the Manila Bay is far from priority as the country continues to face more pressing matters. Not only is there a dispute in terms of priority, but there have also been recent discussions on the project’s health implications from using dolomite.
Although the project was planned and approved before the pandemic, this does not change the fact that it is ill-timing, insensitive, and far from what is needed.
Some examples of what the country actually needs are gadgets for online learning transitions; hazard pay and raise for health workers risking their lives; and established operations for COVID 19 response in all sectors.
The pandemic is uncertain but not impossible to combat. We have seen other nations excel in their response because they merely followed the obvious.
Meanwhile, in the Philippines, we know of diversion — defined as going off track or turning away from a course of action.
In the middle of a pandemic, it is only sensible to appoint a PhilHealth leader who at the very least, knows something about the sector.
In the middle of a pandemic, it is only sensible to not prioritize a beautification project for ‘tourism’ and ‘mental health’ reasons.
Firstly, tourism is clearly off the charts because who would travel in such times? Secondly, many Filipinos suffer mental health problems these days because of all the hardships made worse amid this pandemic — lack of jobs, lack of educational means, lack of basic necessities. These instead are what we need to address. Looking at the Manila Bay’s white sand, would in no way boost morale or aid with mental health wellbeing.
Common sense is something everyone has. The real question here is situated in our ability and willingness to use it.
Meanwhile, as mere citizens, it is important for us to remember that our leaders are meant to safeguard our welfare — that any threat against this should be met with questions and the demand to receive what is just.
Now is not the time where we settle for mind games, unclear plans, and contradicting statements — not when thousands of lives continue to be lost, and poverty continues to be rampant.
As a general consensus, the best course of action is to use common sense. That is all.