"If we have 10 percent of our people fully inoculated, then let them take the initiative in pump-priming the economy."
Each time I get the chance to talk to someone from the government, I always try to raise my point that while it is grossly wrong to penalize anyone for not getting the anti-COVID vaccine yet as we still don’t have the supply enough to inoculate everyone or at least the target 70-80 percent of the population, giving some perks or privileges to those who got the complete shots already could actually be beneficial. This could help convince those who are having second thoughts on getting the vaccine or even those taking their sweet time to get jabbed (never mind those rabid anti-vaxxers as no amount of coaxing could convince them anyway), to start lining up at their nearest vaccination center for their shots.
While I was actually thinking of some lesser restrictions like dropping the use of face shields which Yorme Isko and I both agree are useless in preventing the spread of virus, some business establishments have actually taken the initiative, giving discounts to vaccinated individuals.
As such, I was so elated when I found out former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos shared the same position with me, and at a much higher perspective at that.
Marcos, or simply BBM to his supporters, is not only batting for a lesser restriction for the fully vaccinated persons but is calling on the government to allow them to spend time outdoors, either to earn a living or for health reasons.
And he even aired his appeal early this week when we at the National Capital Region, were still under the Enhanced Community Quarantine.
BBM insists that as long as these vaccinated unauthorized persons outside of residence or what he refers to as UPOR, adhere strictly to minimum public health standards, they could be of “big help in weathering the crisis caused by the coronavirus.
“Not being allowed to work during lockdowns is disadvantageous to workers, especially those who are on a no-work, no-pay basis, those who were laid off from their jobs or those who are forced to render shorter periods of work due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, because they would not have the means to pay for their families’ daily expenses,” Marcos avers.
Rightfully said. Imagine the amount of money the government has to spend for the dole of these workers every time we are placed on lockdown? Not only can the government save on the dole for these workers, but by allowing these workers to report for work, for their respective business establishments to operate and for other vaccinated individuals to patronize respective businesses, the country’s economy would continue to grind.
It’s basically pump-priming the economy.
Last week, I decided to get my maintenance medicines at the Mercury Drugstore branch in Trinoma as I happened to be near the vicinity that time. Entering the mall, I felt like I was thrown into an eerie old, abandoned building as all stores there except for Mercury and the mall’s supermarket were open.
If this single mall with more than a hundred stores closed during the entire duration of the ECQ, then what could be the impact of having all business establishments closed on a regional level like that of the NCR’s?
The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry has already issued a warning to this effect saying a prolonged lockdown could force the closure of no less than 16,000 businesses.
Aggravating the matter during the ECQ—or the MECQ which is to commence today, August 21—is the fact that the lockdown has to occur at a time when “the parents needed to cough up tuition and other fees for their children’s enrollment.”
“They need to work to recover their expenses. And because we are under ECQ, their expenses at home also go up—higher water and power bills. How can they manage if they are not allowed to work outside their homes?” Marcos said.
Marcos however was quick to stress that even vaccinated individuals should still strictly practice minimum public health standards such as wearing face masks, frequent handwashing, and social distancing.
Aside from allowing the fully vaccinated to work, Marcos is also appealing that they be also allowed to practice their religious faith by relaxing restrictions on churches and other places of worship.
“Let them visit their places of worship as long as they follow the IATF-imposed minimum health protocol,” Marcos stated in his appeal after meeting with various church leaders who complained about the lack of government’s consultation with them before closing down their places of worship, as he noted that most churches are spacious enough, hence it would be easy to ensure social distancing.
When the ECQ was imposed last year, religious activities had to be held virtually to prevent mass gatherings. This was later eased as churches were allowed ten percent to 30 percent of their capacity to be filled. But they were closed again for masses and other group activities when the ECQ was reimposed. Early this month.
Marcos said the government should take into consideration that Filipinos are very religiously devoted to their faith, and it would contribute to their mental well-being and uplift their spirits when they can go inside the church to hear mass or pray.
“Going to church to pray somehow helps people’s well-being. It somehow makes your heart feel better. Filipinos always want to go to church and practice their faith,” Marcos says.
While the suggestion may sound logical to me and some people I know, I would expect others, especially the memas (Yung mga mema-sabi lang), to criticize Marcos’ proposal, and would likely brand them as “insensitive” for those who have yet to get their vaccines.
Which would then be tantamount to insisting that if one person goes hungry, the rest should also go on fasting. Or that if my neighbor has no car or if another neighbor has an old one, I should then forgo my dream of owning a new car as it would be offensive to my neighbors.
But then, this is not about insensitivity. This is about slowly easing our way back to the old normal. Back to how we used to live our lives before, or at least, how we remember living before this pandemic.
If we have 10 percent of our people fully inoculated, then let them take the initiative in returning to the old normal. Next month, when we get another 10 percent fully vaccinated, we can let them join in the quest to return to living the way we used to. And it goes on and on, until we reach the target number to achieve herd immunity.