Literally, a clarion call for more vaccines and faster. For the better part of the year, the culprit was lack of supply. But, for the past ten days, government has acknowledged that supply is “not anymore an issue.” As of yesterday, we had already surpassed the milestone total of 100 million vaccine doses.
One day at a time. Having endured the August to September Delta surge, we see the rise in vaccinations contributing to our welcome numbers. The vaccine shield is reinforced by the antibodies of those previously infected. We are grateful for the continuing improvement in statistics, noting the daily downtrends in all metrics. In the National Capital Region, the 7-day average as of Tuesday plunged to 901 in contrast to the previous week’s average of 1,405 daily. Back in Oct. 9, the DOH projected a 1,100 daily average by Nov. 15.
We’re doing much better. More vaccinations is clearly instrumental to a safer and more comfortable life, to restoring investor and consumer confidence and to speeding up recovery. Ramping up is critical, especially as we are learning about new sub-variants and fourth surges from foreign shores.
Vax to the max. The priority of accelerating pace is seconded by the IMF which does not share our elation. Our national average of 24.12 percent “seems to be low” to them, considering our consumption-based economy and heavy dependence on tourism and the service sector. For our target 77 million herd immunity by end of year, 26.8 million as of today shows just how far we are from where we need to be.
The IATF-DOH-DILG-LGUs will be making vaccines available to those who want them. It will no longer be sector sequential. Wanted: more space, more hours and more vaccinators – dentists are already on deck as augmentary force. The private sector has pitched in, offering mall space, hotel space, homeowner association space, etc.
The new target is 1.5 million vaccines daily by Nov. 15. Mandates and incentives are on the table. Given that we will be accommodating the 12.7 population of the 12-17 age group, vaccine czar General Carlito Galvez is expecting that we hit the 1 million daily vaccinations as early as Nov. 10.
Data Privacy. Pharmally officials have invoked data privacy concerns to stop testifying before the Senate Blue Ribbon investigation into the 2020 COA findings on the utilization of the DOH budget, particularly the funds for the fight against COVID-19. National Privacy Commission head Raymund Liboro felt compelled to release a statement: “We would like to reiterate that the Data Privacy Act of 2012 (DPA) does not prohibit the disclosure of personal or sensitive personal information (collectively, personal data) when necessary for purposes of complying with validly issued subpoenas by government investigating bodies.”
Other experts have publicly weighed in to buttress this position, mostly invoking the coverage of the law. The provisions of the Act do not apply to “… (e) Information necessary in order to carry out the functions of public authority which includes the processing of personal data for the performance by the independent, central monetary authority and law enforcement and regulatory agencies of their constitutionally and statutorily mandated functions.”
Arguably, however, the statutory language cites only the Central Bank, law enforcement and regulatory agencies. This enumeration does not expressly enumerate Congress, although the phrase “public authority” could be so construed to include the institution. If this is among the arguments of Pharmally in pushing the applicability of the Data Privacy Law exemption, a clarification from the Court on the definition of this phrase would be sought.
None are so blind as those who refuse to see. Whether or not the Liboro et. al. interpretations are upheld, they are, at least, correct in asserting that “data privacy rights should not be cited as an excuse to evade legal proceedings.” The potential exposure of sensitive or confidential information is not justification enough to defy a valid congressional subpoena. In fact, once in possession of Congress, there is no embargo on its members from disclosing the data publicly.
There is no need for Congress to supply statutory language, precise or ambiguous, to establish its authority – even in the Data Privacy Law. When the Senate exercises investigative oversight and the subpoena/contempt to enforce it, it is exercising a constitutional power. It has been called an inherent constitutional power, as an auxiliary to its legislative power; and implicit or implied constitutional power from the express power to legislate. In fact, the power to investigate is actually expressly provided in Sec. 21 of Article VI of the Constitution. They might as well have questioned the right of courts to decide justiciable controversies or the authority of the President to implement the law.
We wonder if the court will even entertain the folly of Pharmally officials asking it to second guess its co-equal branch in the exercise of a definite constitutional power.
The room where it happens. Today we end the registration of voters for the 2022 elections. It was humbling to witness the phenomenon of first time registrants (there are around 5 million of them), mostly young voters, storming the beachheads of overwhelmed voter registration sites. “Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night” could stay them. It has been one of the lasting beacons of hope in this pandemic.
The Comelec projected a 59-million total. But we have over 63 million as of Sept. 11 with the final tally expected at over 65 million. This is still substantially less than Philippine Statistics Authority estimate of 73 million.
The 2016 presidential elections had 52 million voters. 81.5 percent or almost 43 million voted. For the 2019 midterm, the total registered votes hit 61,843, 771 with voter turnout at 78 percent. If we were to anticipate an average of 80 percent of 65 million in May, a little over 52 million will be deciding our future. That is only 47.27 percent of our approximately 110 million population. Of that 52 million, more than half are in the 18-40 demographic.