Pooled possibilities

The concept of “pooled testing” as being promoted by businessman and Go-Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion deserves more appreciation than it has been getting, particularly the pooled testing using the RT-PCR. To start with, pooled testing is a very creative and pragmatic solution in the face of the government’s refusal or failure to control the prices of any and all testing services for Covid-19. The tests are simply too expensive, the prices varying from one place to another and anyone who needs the test will feel like they are shopping between malls and tiangges to find the best price. I suspect that the reason Sec. Duque and the IATF and the Duterte administration won’t impose a price ceiling is because they don’t want to upset the many hospitals both private and public, the Red Cross and laboratories who have assumed government’s responsibility! Placing a price ceiling on Covid-19 testing will certainly create a backlash against the government that has failed to provide this vital service to its citizens and therefor has no business telling hospitals and laboratories how to price their services.

The pooled testing is creative because it provides an alternative to tracking Covid-19 infection in groups without having to do it one person at a time at an average of P5,000 per test. For a family of five that would be P25,000 or for a batch of 10 office workers it would be P50,000 on the spot. But in the pooled concept a family of five would have the average cost of P1000 each or for the batch of 10 it would only be P500 each, the bigger the population the greater the cost savings. Now that President Duterte declared the slow or gradual opening to tourism, many families can now make use of the pooled testing to save money to meet the health protocol of LGUs, especially if they are confident that none of them have ever been exposed to or manifested Covid-19 symptoms. We can only hope and pray that the Go-Negosyo group can team up with the Department of Tourism to insure that pooled testing will be made into a standard option for tourists, especially families. The worst thing that can happen is if greedy moneymakers with grubby hands influence the IATF, Duque and the LGU’s not to honor “pooled testing” or insist on individual testing only. Any LGU or national official who opposes “pooled testing” should be declared suspect, anti-tourism and a lobbyist for the RT-PCR operators!

*      *      *

It is sad that militants and politicians made time and effort to criticize, comment or rally against the pending release of Joseph Scott Pemberton but not about the monthly reports of the Philippine National Police concerning increasing cases of child abuse, domestic violence or an average of 18 rape cases that take place daily under the national quarantine. If only for that, the decision of President Duterte to give Pemberton a full pardon almost feels like the heavens have decided to rub salt on the misplaced indignation of politicians and activists who focused on the Laude case but not on the multiple cases of rape that occur daily. It seems that the only time rape matters is if it involves sensationalism, barbarity and when the media has picked up the story and that’s when the militants, politicians and publicity hounds start jumping in like alligators sensing opportunity in the water.

“Rape” is understandably a very uncomfortable topic but it is something that we Filipinos must begin to face, confront and address as a national concern, especially when 18 rapes occur everyday, especially when we are labeled as the top “manufacturer” or source for child porn or a haven for pedophiles. I remember a time when many upper class Filipinos commented negatively on the gang rapes that were happening in parts of India and labeled it as barbaric. But at least the women there took to the streets and demanded action from the national government. I remember a conversation I had with my wife who is from the Netherlands and who expressed disbelief at how prevalent rape cases are in the Philippines. She said most of her Filipino friends or business acquaintances knew of someone or had family that was a rape victim. We hide this fact, and we act like it’s “a dirty little secret” not to be spoken about. Thanks to the establishment of Women and Children’s desks at PNP stations, there are now places that victims can run to for help and justice.

But who is looking into the problem, its root causes and what are the DSWD, DILG and the national government doing about the problem? What are the women in the Senate and in Congress doing to recognize and address the problem? Many officials talk about factors and challenges like they are making a thesis defense but that is all they do; talk about the cramped homes, alcohol abuse, pornography and women being unsure of themselves or ill-equipped mentally and socially to protect or defend themselves. They speak at events, publish papers and articles, give media interviews but there is no real on-going long-term program to educate or re-educate people, especially men. Rape is a reality in Philippine society and we need to do more than conduct gender sensitivity seminars. We need to discuss the matter out in the open, impressionable minds need to get the right perspective on how destructive and damaging rape is and what it says about a nation and its people. Be a voice for those who cannot speak rather than speaking for no one but yourself. We need to talk about rape in the pulpit, at school, at work and in every barangay. Filipinos need to deal with the curse face to face.

*      *      *

E-mail: [email protected]