"When will this pandemic-driven braggadocio stop?"
Over the past weeks, the Duterte regime has embarked a PR campaign regarding this Corona Virus-driven onslaught.
By mounting one publicity stunt after another, the regime seem to show how "successful" its action in "controlling the spread of this pandemic", while failing to procure the necessary needs especially for frontliners and the reluctance to carry out testing on a massive scale to determine the actual extent of the spread.
It is also from their statements that the regime caims that the Philippines as one of the lowest incidence of NCOV19 infection in Asia, when in fact thousands remain infected by this pandemic which stretches the national health system into its limits.
Obviously, the statements are meant to placate and pacify the folk in the face of growing concern, if not an outright discontent brought by the "Enhanced Community Quarantine" nor its failure to extend social assistance, or even its initial rants towards the opposition and its concern-driven acts.
What more in carrying out its amelioriation program as rather driven by popular compulsion. It came too little, too late as it promises to provide financial assistance to the folk. The assistance, however, cannot cover the rising cost of living especially in this extended lockdown. Worse, to see reports of zero assistance in the countryside with peasants suffered after preventing them from selling their agricultural produce resulting in financial losses and spoilage of much needed food in the urban areas. This problem, along with existing agrarian issues like oppressive land rents, low farm wages, and forced dislocations aggravated the peasant situation even in this time of pandemic crisis.
What more in carrying out its amelioriation program as rather driven by popular compulsion. It came too little, too late as it promises to provide financial assistance to the folk. The assistance, however, cannot cover the rising cost of living especially in this extended lockdown. Worse, to see reports of zero assistance in the countryside with peasants suffered after preventing them from selling their agricultural produce resulting in financial losses and spoilage of much needed food in the urban areas. This problem, along with existing agrarian issues like oppressive land rents, low farm wages, and forced dislocations aggravated the peasant situation even in this time of pandemic crisis.
But despite these acts this doesn't stop the people from getting concerned be it the accuracy of the report or how the regime has treated its constituents. They are not appeased by the sugar-coated sentiments as they have been without work and depending on limited assistance, but instead, rising criticisms over the meagre anount alloted by the regime been overheard after Duterte plays a different tune "worrying" where to get money for the needed assistance.
The daily cost of food and other necessities have eaten up their meager savings, while Local Government Units, Churches, and some concerned private individuals are calling for much needed support to sustain individuals, families, and communities.
For sure apologists would continue to cling in the promises their idol stated for days especially as criticism intensifies. They would justify furher police actions while failing to speak on the growing need for mass testing, what more of condoning realignments in the national budget, favouring tourism and infrastructure projects to appease international funders; or keeping defence, and the intelligence budgets bloated rather than reallocate towards health and social welfare. This obvious indifference, as shown by temporary facilities, lack of equipment and necessary improvements, as well as the much needed salary increases for health workers would say that the regime has long neglected these concerned folk, placing the national health system at risk while praising them hypocritically as "heroes".
To cut this note short, that in the face of aggravating crisis, the Filipino folk chose to seek truth from facts rather than appeased by the claims brought about by the order; what more that these folks themselves, having enough of the imposed situation and the braggadocio shown in the television screens and in social media sites are willing to raise their voices in indignation all despite various threats to have them arrested or shot dead.