The thin line between lives and livelihood

WE all admit that everything has changed all over the world. Just a few months ago, we were all enjoying normalcy, living our usual daily grind. And then, bombarded with daily reports of increasing infections and deaths, we suddenly found ourselves in grief, uncertain over whether we would be able to see our loved ones again.

They say we have to make a choice between sacrificing the lives of humans and damaging our livelihoods. It is a no- brainer that we don’t want to be in this delicate balancing act and that we should do everything to try and find every possible solution.

Enormous efforts are being made at finding a cure or vaccine and, at the same time, find ways to boost and stabilize the economy by partial reopening.

As of now, we see China, Japan, South Korea and Singapore achieving success in how to stop the virus from spreading and enabling economic activity to partially resume. Many are following developments in Asia and Europe in slowing down the growth of infections and deaths.

An unprecedented gross domestic product decline in the second quarter is imminent. We are not sure that we can handle the economic shock that will be brought on by the nonoperation of small and big businesses and the resilience of our societies to bear such human suffering.

If mobility is restrained, consumer spending is definitely curtailed. It is predicted that discretionary spending could fall as much as 50 percent or more. While the government stimulus package may help offset some economic dislocation, it is not expected to solve the situation in full. Eventually, the well will dry up due to the absence of taxation rainfall.

Whether it’s enhanced community quarantine ( ECQ), modified ECQ, general community quarantine (GCQ) or modified GCQ, the practice should stay the same — mass testing, isolation, physical distancing, wearing of face masks, sufficient personal protective equipment and contact tracing.

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As of press time, India and Bangladesh are bracing for the strongest storm ever recorded in the Bay of Bengal. Let us pray.

*** National Capital Region Police Office chief MGen. Debold Sinas said he had “recovered” from low morale caused by the backlash of his birthday celebration during the ECQ. Mr. General, we have not yet recovered from the low morale that you have caused us.

Philippine National Police chief Archie Gamboa said Sinas would be “hard to replace.” I tend to agree, that is why I am now singing the song “Irreplaceable You.”

Another one bites the dust. The Supreme Court has issued a showcause order against a regional trial court ( RTC) judge for possible violations of quarantine protocols when she celebrated her birthday with her staff. The subject of the show-cause order is Nabunturan, Compostela Valley RTC Branch 3 Presiding Judge Cresenciana de la Cruz and her staff.

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It is just appropriate for Energy Regulatory Commission ( ERC) Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Agnes Devanadera to investigate the accuracy of Manila Electric Co.’s controversial and “confusing” billings. We, the consumers, are entitled to be enlightened on the billing procedure undertaken. Money does not fall from trees, especially in these trying times.

Even Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian’s office was flooded with complaints. It seems that complying with the quarantine protocols placed us in an “electrifying” punishment.

I have to express my suspicion that the meter readers were too far away to see the meters accurately because of the observance of physical distancing.

I cannot blame Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez 3rd for saying that the government was operating on 2020’s P4.1trillion national budget. The lockdown and the Department of Finance’s inability to collect taxes have made matters worse.

We need partnerships like this: the Quezon City government has linked deals with the Chinese General Hospital and the Philippine Genome Center to expedite the processing and release of coronavirus disease 2019 ( Covid- 19) test results as the city has undertaken an intensified community- based testing process.

The member of the Presidential Security Guard who recovered from Covid- 19, was not part of President Rodrigo Duterte’s close-in security. No one is allowed to drop his guard in a pandemic.

In its latest bulletin, the Department of Health confirmed that coronavirus infections in the country have breached the 13,000- mark since the Philippines logged its first case in late January. Of the new cases, 174 ( 78 percent) are from the National Capital Region, the epicenter of the outbreak.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra will start in the middle of next month the investigation into the killing of Army Cpl. Winston Ragos. We are interested to know if there was indeed foul play in the case.

*** Distractions of seniors while driving:

– Trying to recall which panel switches to push.

– You forget your eyeglasses. – Sexy women in minis and short shorts crossing the street. – Forgetting destination. – Wives seated beside you trying to contradict Waze and Google map.

– News in radio saying a fire has just started in your area.

– The pedestrian you bumped is on your windshield and looks like a police officer.

– A text from your wife saying your mother- in- law just moved in to stay for good.

– A news report saying your shares dropped by 15 points.

– A text from your wife informing you that your daughter eloped.

– Seeing a car of a young hunk beside you with your wife in it.

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Good work, good deeds and good faith to all.