The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) was encouraged on Saturday to strictly monitor the contact tracing activities in the localities in a bid to slow down, if not totally prevent, the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
With the opening of some business firms, concerned citizens are wary that the transmission of the virus is more likely as people start to flock malls, restaurants, eateries, and similar establishments.
As COVID-19 cases remain on the upswing in the country, Samuel Santos, a chicharon (crispy pork skin) vendor in Sta. Maria, Bulacan, stressed that the virus "will never go away" with the undisciplined ways of the people.
Citing as an example, Santos said that rival chicharon outlets in a bid to entice more clients have loosened the enforcement of minimum health protocols as many customers had defied them and received no reprimand or reminder from the store personnel.
"Kung mayroon mang sumusunod sa minimum health standards ay minimal lang. May parokyano na may face mask nga pero nasa ilalim naman ng ilong nakapwesto o minsan ay wala ng suot na tinatangkilik naman ng mga nagtitinda ng chicharon ng bukas palad. 'Yan ang katotohanan na dulot ng pandemic na nagpahirap lalo na sa mga nasa pinakamababang antas ng lipunan (If there is any adherence to the minimum health standards, it is very minimal. Customers with their face masks placed below their noses or even those without one are accommodated with open arms by the chicharon vendors. That is the reality with the pandemic bringing so much financial burden most especially to the lower class of the society)," Santos said.
Santos also noted that many occupants of households with close contacts with COVID-19 patients roam freely in many towns of Bulacan and in Quezon City where he goes from time to time to visit relatives.
“Ang contact tracing para sa mga taong nakahalubilo ang mga may COVID-19 ay napakahalaga. Binabati ko ang DILG dahil sa kanilang satisfactory sa contact tracing. Pero ang pagkakakilanlan ng ng mga indibidwal o membro ng tahanan na dapat naka bartolina ay dapat na naka pirmi sa kanilang tahanan. Toka na ng barangay na masiguro na walang makakaalpas sa labas ng kanilang tahanan hanggang sila ay naka lockdown (Contact tracing for people in close contact COVID-19 is very vital. I commend the DILG for its satisfactory contact tracing efforts. But identifying individuals or household members who are supposed to be on lockdown should remain locked down in their homes. The barangays should be responsible for ensuring that no one leaves their residence in the course of the lockdown)," he added.
However, Santos observed that "trapos" (traditional politicians) are still in power even down the community level as rogue barangay officials tolerate the misdeeds of people who are supposed to be on lockdown for fear of losing their votes.
“Nakakadismaya, hindi baleng kumalat ang COVID basta wag lang mawalan ng boto sa halalan (It is very frustrating. It does not matter if there will be a spike in COVID-19 cases just as long as they do not lose votes in the elections),’’ Santos ended.