"Is this a long-term thing or a limited program only during the remainder of the Duterte administration? If so, it may have politics written all over it."
"Is this a long-term thing or a limited program only during the remainder of the Duterte administration? If so, it may have politics written all over it."
"Balik Probinsya" sounds to me like a Band-Aid solution to the congestion in Metro Manila that's readily apparent in the proliferation of informal settler communities along esteros and in the unmanageable traffic along city streets at all times, not just during rush hours.
It also looks like a knee-jerk reaction to the huge number of people, primarily from urban poor and lower middle-class communities, seeking cash assistance from the government amid the COVID-19 lockdown in almost the entire country.
In other words, if the goal is to send back to the provinces all those without the means to support themselves, that's tantamount to sending them off to exile in their home country, not as a punishment for crime or violation of laws, but simply because they're poor and a big burden to the government.
Who would want to go home to Sulu or Basilan, for instance, where the remnants of the dreaded Abu Sayyaf still manage to engage government troops in armed hostilities?
Who would want to be sent home to parts of Caraga region which is among the least developed in the country and where there are few jobs and livelihood opportunities?
We're told that those who would voluntarily avail themselves of the program would be given livelihood and even housing in their home provinces. This is too good to be true.
But we do have other questions. Is this a long-term thing or a limited program only during the remainder of the Duterte administration? If so, it may have politics written all over it.
We're wary of the Balik Probinsya program now touted by the this government as no other similar program in past administrations since the 1960s has yielded significant results, that is, led to a marked reduction in poverty levels in this country.
Free vaccine for COVID-19
Will this proposal see the light of day?
We're referring to the call made last week by more than 140 world leaders, experts and elders for guarantees that COVID-19 vaccines, diagnostics, tests and treatments should be provided free of charge to everyone, everywhere.
“Billions of people today await a vaccine that is our best hope of ending this pandemic,” said Cyril Ramaphosa, President of South Africa. “We are resolute that the COVID-19 vaccine must be patent-free, rapidly made and distributed, and free for all. All the science must be shared between governments. Nobody should be pushed to the back of the vaccine queue because of where they live or what they earn.”
“We must work together to beat this virus. We must pool all the knowledge, experience and resources at our disposal for the good of all humanity,” according to Imran Khan, Prime Minister of Pakistan. “No leader can rest easy until every individual in every nation is able to rapidly access a vaccine free of charge.”
The leaders said they recognize that many countries and international organizations are cooperating on research and development, funding and access.
However, since any countries and companies are working to develop an effective vaccine, the leaders want concrete commitments to ensure that it is made affordable and available to all in the quickest possible time.
One, a mandatory worldwide pooling of patents and sharing of all COVID-19-related knowledge, data and technologies in order to ensure that any nation can produce or buy affordable doses of vaccines, treatments and tests.
Two, the rapid establishment of an equitable global manufacturing and distribution plan for all vaccines, treatments and tests that is fully funded by rich nations and which guarantees transparent “at true cost prices” and supplies in accordance with need rather than the ability to pay. This would involve massive increase in manufacturing capacity to produce the vaccines in sufficient quantities and train and recruit millions of health workers to distribute them.
Three, a guarantee that COVID-19 vaccines, treatments and tests are provided free of charge to everyone, everywhere, with priority given to frontline workers, vulnerable people and poor countries with the least capacity to save lives.
“Faced with this crisis, we cannot carry on business as usual. The health of each of us depends on the health of all of us,” said Helen Clark, former Prime Minister of New Zealand. “The COVID-19 vaccine must not belong to anyone and must be free for everyone. Diplomatic platitudes are not enough—we need legal guarantees, and we need them now.”
All this is well and good. But will the big pharmaceutical firms and private laboratories engaged in medical research agree to give away for free the end-result of their frantic—and no doubt expensive—search for a free COVID-19 vaccine?