The threat you least expected

The greatest threat to you and your family may not necessarily be the rising criminality that you read about in the papers or watch on television. The greatest threat to you and your family can be what you take for granted.

Last Wednesday, my greatest fears were confirmed when I was informed that Cassandra Louise Filomena Aranas the 10-year-old only daughter of my friend and church mate Atty. Clint & Peaches Aranas had died after struggling with Dengue for 5 days. When Cassandra or “Sandy” as she is called fell ill, her parents immediately brought her to St. Luke’s Medical Center at the Fort.

Given the experience and wealth of knowledge available on Dengue, her parents tried not to worry, presuming the problem would quickly be under control once the necessary treatment protocols were in place. Unfortunately Sandy was hit by a more virulent strain of Dengue and within a few days her system had complications and she eventually went into cardiac arrest.

Picking up the bits and pieces from the stories at the wake, Sandy was not the only one who got Dengue as another student in the same area in Parañaque also had Dengue. Up until Sandy went flat line, no one even imagined how present and deadly Dengue could be.

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Yesterday, my younger brother Mike texted me to say that 3 street urchins threw a rock through his windshield while he was driving under the Sandigan underpass in Quezon City. Last year, if I remember correctly, he had a similar experience while driving under a pedestrian overpass on C-5 near the Fort.

Last month, a pretty young lady named Tanya ended up with a huge black eye and could have lost her right eye when a “mental patient” on the loose hurled a rock through the windshield and hit her in the face. Judging from other people’s stories these are no longer isolated cases. They happen a lot more frequently than we imagine but they are too “small” to be featured on TV or media.

Yes life is full of the unexpected and as some say: “Shit happens”. But you have to wonder how it is possible that in the day and age of stem cell therapy, surveillance and attack drones and genetic manipulation, why this growing Tiger we call the Philippines can’t even initiate a massive and intensive eradication program of Dengue carrying mosquitoes and removing dangerous kids and psychos from our streets.

After reviewing past reports and actions taken by the Department of Health (DOH), it would seem that the DOH is limited to monitoring incidents and compiling statistics on Dengue and the number of deaths. Yes the DOH has not failed to remind the public about Dengue and the necessary precautions. But where are the officials of the Department of Interior and Local Government as well as the Department of Education.

While Dengue maybe a medical concern, a recognizable number of cases have been traced to schools particularly those located near esteros and wetland areas. Even though the DOH representatives spend each day on radio to warn and remind people about Dengue, it is the barangay officials who need to conduct their own version of “zonas” or to go house to house to stage a coordinated community-wide and inter-barangay eradication program. But unless Mar Roxas turns the war against Dengue as a political or PR campaign, no one at the DILG is likely to do something about it.

What’s weird about this recent cases of dengue is that it raises the question: “What happened to the DOST’s mosquito traps?” Obviously, after their 2 minutes of fame on National media, no real program or manageable system has been put in place to require every household to saturate their areas with mosquito traps. No barangay officials or personnel have been assigned to monitor and check the use and maintenance of the traps. So now, many parents end up having to bury their children instead of looking forward to having grandchildren.

As for the street kids, In a country where they regularly conducted “zonas” or rounding up criminal elements without the benefit of search warrants and arrest warrants, it is pathetic how many police officers can’t be bothered to deal with street kids and highway hooligans unless the PNP or police precincts end up in the news or being attacked by media. Every person I’ve talked to who has had an unpleasant encounter with the street hooligans have one common tale to tell. The cops always tell them it’s pointless to arrest the repeat offenders because after a few days the DSWD will always let them out.

Perhaps the Chief PNP should remind his police officers that the job is about keeping peace and order, protecting property, and ARRESTING those who break the law. If we can’t jail minors, the cops should at least make the parents responsible for the violations and damage caused by these repeat offenders. Some pressure should be placed on Barangay officials where these street urchins reside to address, monitor and even mentor their constituents. Police officers who “give up” doing their jobs just because they’re frustrated, should undergo retraining or should be sent back to the academy!

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When I wrote about the proposal to ban 10-year old vehicles in order to create a bigger market for the car manufacturers, I received several responses from our readers. As expected many “old” car owners were upset and declared that their old cars are well maintained. One reader felt especially betrayed because he bought his car in 2002 and chose a more expensive model believing he was investing on quality. If the BOI proposal were implemented today, his investment suddenly becomes junk!

The best reaction I received on the proposal came from someone who does not even own a car and his reaction came in the form of a question: Did the people who came up with the proposal study how many jobs and families would be affected if they took out all the 10 year old cars or older?

“Jojo” considers himself as someone “na mababa lang ang pinag-aralan” being a self taught “latero” or body repair expert. But he did hit a home run as he pointed out that if 10-year old or older cars were junked, many mechanics, lateros and electricians as well as “pintors” or painters would be out of jobs. We might as well shut down most of the “Auto supply” stores and surplus parts store.

Like I said in that column: “Listen to the dull and the ignorant for they too have their stories” – Desiderata.

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