There’s just too many smart alecks around
We all saw the news on TV that thousands of workers on their motorcycles crowded the border between Meycauayan and Valenzuela. This is due to the fact that the police and barangay workers manning the streets were simply overwhelmed by the sheer number of people. Thanks also to the lack of thermal scanners, the whole scenario became ugly. With this report, President Rodrigo Duterte declared an "enhanced community quarantine" over the entire Luzon including Metro Manila as part of a continuous push to contain the spread of COVID-19.
The newly-issued memorandum from the Palace on the enhanced quarantine guides government agencies to ensure the prohibition of mass gatherings and the imposition of strict home quarantine among all households. Of course, too many in our social media networks complain that the president has not done any planning, or worse, why he didn’t do this earlier. Come now, if the president did this earlier there would be a howl as to why he did this when COVID-19 didn’t yet threaten us. In sort there are just too many smart alecks out there! What this nation needs today is unity among our people. We don’t need bitches who only complain and do not do anything to help.
Meanwhile, we thank the people in the medical industry for being in the frontlines in this war against COVID-19. It is through their efforts that we would contain the spread of this virus. Someone sent me a map of the Philippines that showed that only Negros Oriental in the entire Visayas was not infected with the COVID-19. So let’s keep it that way.
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Meanwhile in the midst of what is happening throughout the nation where we are now on community quarantine, we got two letters from various clients.
The first one comes from AboitizLand:
“To our valued vecinos: Your safety is of utmost importance to us. In light of the recent developments concerning COVID-19, and as a precaution for you, our vecinos, as well as our team members, AboitizLand is adhering to the protective and preventive measures set out by our National and Local Leaders. We encourage you to transact and send inquiries or requests to us from the safety of your homes.
“Our Customer Service Team will be ready to assist you daily from 8am to 4pm, Monday-Friday (except holidays) through our hotline at 032-411-1600 local 4. Reach us at [email protected].
“Payments, other than those previously arranged, should be done online or through mobile banking/bills payment. Our Treasury Team is updating our list of accredited banks and we will share this updated list with you as soon as possible. Thank you.”
The other letter emailed to me comes from Cebu Pacific:
“Flights to/from Cebu March 17, 2020 (8:40am). Due to stricter quarantine screening on our personnel imposed by the Provincial Government, we regret that all Cebu Pacific and Cebgo flights to and from Cebu scheduled for today are cancelled. Passengers on the cancelled flights can choose from any of these options: Rebook the flight, with change fees and fare difference waived. Store the full value of the ticket in a Travel Fund. This is valid for 180 days and can be used to book any Cebu Pacific flight within the next 12 months. Get a refund. The refund will be according to the mode of payment. If paid in cash, refund must be claimed at designated Cebu Pacific ticket offices. If payment was made through debit or credit card, please allow at least three (3) billing cycles for refund to be credited into the account due to high volume of refund transactions.
“To avail any of these options, use the “Manage Booking” portal in the Cebu Pacific website http://bit.ly/CEBmanageflight. We apologize for the inconvenience this will cause.”
Meanwhile, perhaps the best statement that was sent to me by our Facebook friends was this: “During the war, our parents had worse problems. In our present situation, we are only asked to stay home and help the nation stop the spread of this virus.” In the meantime let’s follow the most logical suggestion of all; do what is called “social distancing” whether in your office at work or doing some groceries or even going to church. That my friends can very well prevent the spread of the virus.
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