Kudos to mvp for helping fight COVID-19

I got this text message from my good friend, and fellow STAR columnist Mike Toledo, “We thank MPIC Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan for his noble intervention and approval and positive response that saved the lives of our potential patients waiting in queue to get into three Mega Quarantine Tents in Ciudad de Victoria inside the Philippine Arena. MPIC engagement came timely as these three health facilities were completed only last April 26.”

Meralco and Maynilad would start mobilization by Monday. WiFi installation and free toll entrance to Philippine Arena for doctors/medical personnel/frontliners and patients would excellently compliment and provide convenience to the upcoming entire medical operation inside this health facility. This text message came from Usec Emil Sadain of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and sent to me by my dear friend Mike Toledo. Kudos to MVP for his great response in this time of COVID-19. I also know that MVP assigned many vehicles to support people who fight the COVID-19.

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Also last Monday, the Department of Tourism announced the death of former Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez recently. He was 64. Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat in a statement said, “On behalf of the officials and employees of the Department of Tourism (DOT), I would like to extend our sincerest condolences to the bereaved loved ones of former Tourism Secretary Ramon ‘Mon’ Jimenez Jr. who recently passed away.”

Sec. Jimenez was behind the country’s tourism slogan, “It’s more fun in the Philippines” which was launched by the DOT in 2012. Actually I met him during the Balloon Festival in Clark Airbase and with Capt. Joy Roa, we had coffee in one of the tents for that Festival and he told me that he learned of the Balloon Festival from my STAR column. Sec. Jimenez has been appointed by former president Benigno Aquino III as the acting secretary of the DOT in September 2011 to replace former secretary Alberto Lim.

He led the agency until 2016. May we request our pious readers to please pray for the repose of his soul.

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I just learned that the Department of Health (DOH) considered senior citizens (meaning 60 years old and above) are not allowed to leave their homes. I got a statement that has become viral that senior citizens should not be isolated… but protected. That statement declares the proposed mandatory quarantine (akin to house arrest of senior citizens) is unfair and unconstitutional! It is arbitrary and discriminatory application of the law limiting our human and civil rights. 

It added, “While we appreciate the concern for our safety against the dreaded COVID-19 the proposed mandate that senior citizens to be restricted to stay home is ill-conceived and ill-planned, devoid of proper and in-depth economic and demographic analyses. The assumption on health vulnerability by the DOH is not based on conclusive study and research… and at best a cautionary assumption. Many young and healthy people also got infected by COVID-19.

Lastly it says, “Many senior citizens especially those in the 60-65 years of age are still gainfully employed and are supporting their families and even their grandchildren. Some of them need to work and many of them are even more healthier than the over-socializing and vice-filled younger workers.” Mind you, I’m in this age category… and I question the DOH for making this uncalled for suggestion.

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It has been over five weeks since the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) was put into effect in the entire Philippines and throughout that period, Globe Telecom remains unwavering in its commitment to assist customers and mitigate the impact of this pandemic. We learned that Globe has put in place comprehensive initiatives that keep customers and frontliners connected, safe, and informed. 

As Ernest Cu, Globe president and CEO said, “Being at the forefront of the country’s digitalization initiatives, the unprecedented impact of the pandemic underscores the potential of fully utilizing technology in all aspects of our daily life.  The health crisis may have given us an opportunity to change the way we use technology and adapt to new ways of doing things.” Globe’s primary responsibility is to ensure that its network is up and running and that customers continue to have voice, text, and broadband connections even while at home. My family can attest to Globe’s non- stop serving its clients as we never had any connection problems since the ECQ.

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