Triple whammy

Some health experts said the disease will peak in October or November and then make a downturn till it dissipates. Could we rely on their prediction?

Too bad our country is reeling from the effects of the triple whammy which visited us recently: the massive earthquake in northern Luzon, the monkeypox and dengue scare, and the prevailing coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.

Just as we are about to lower our guard, sub-variants have surfaced, causing a big hike in the number of Covid-19 cases. Now, would the authorities not contemplate on imposing the most rigid of alert levels? Some health experts said the disease will peak in October or November and then make a downturn till it dissipates. Could we rely on their prediction?

As for the economy, the country is beset with high inflation rates although the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and our economic managers are trying every move to stem its run upwards. It is notable that fuel prices are getting weekly rollbacks at the pump, but the prices of basic commodities, including rice, are steadily increasing, baffling even the Department of Trade and Industry, an agency tasked to monitor prices of essential goods.

* * *

SM Prime Holdings Inc. is in the thick of things in a private-public collaboration with the local government of Iloilo for the redevelopment of two city public markets.

I caught the interview of Steven Tan, SM Supermalls president, over One News television recently, and he talked of his firm’s involvement in community projects, concessions and assistance to mall tenants and giving added value to customers’ money.

Tan, along with SM Prime Holdings president Jeffrey Lim and other SM and Iloilo officials, signed the lease agreement for the redevelopment of the city’s public markets.

SM Prime Holdings and SM Supermalls are also eyeing other areas of the country that need improvement and redevelopment in partnership with local government units.

The corporate social responsibility aspect of these two large companies likewise reach out to communities with students who need scholarships and access to quality education. SM Foundation scholars number into thousands, and this is a great way to alleviate poverty and pluck the students from the tentacles of hunger, poverty and destitution. This is the noble way SM touches the lives of many Filipinos.

***

Triple whammy to world peace: the Russia-Ukraine war, the China-Taiwan heightened tensions and the brewing Gaza-Israel misunderstanding.