Presidential Security Group commander Col. Jesus Durante announced yesterday that “personalities” expected to be in near proximity to the President will be thoroughly screened and tested for any illness related to COVID-19. PSG also said that there should be a “no touch” policy for the President.

Really? We want to protect the President (not the majority of Filipinos) from COVID-19?

First of all, as actress Agot Isidro pointed out in a tweet, we barely see him in person. It’s not like everyday Filipinos get to meet him frequently.

Paano mahahawakan, eh di nga makita? 🤷🏻‍♀️ https://t.co/YxVnXl8BQf

— Agot Isidro (@agot_isidro) March 9, 2020

But this kind of exclusivist protection is asymptomatic of our failing priorities. As we focus on the safety of the President, what is being done to safeguard the health of the rest of the country now that the number of cases has doubled from the initial 10 apart from canceling classes and declaring an emergency? How about the laborers whose grind continues because despite the ongoing epidemic, we are expected to be productive, to live as if it were any normal day. Aren’t the elderly more prone to coronavirus, after all?

[READ: There are now 10 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the country—three are local transmissions]

“Kalokohan ’yan”

But more than this prioritizing of the President over the 100 million everyday Filipinos, what’s more alarming is Duterte’s blatant disregard of the most basic protections afforded to the public: social distancing.

Immediately after the PSG’s no touch announcement, Duterte rejected the measure saying he would continue to “embrace” or shake hands with the people he meets, calling the directive a “kalokohan” or a foolish idea.

“Kalokohan ‘yan [That’s foolish]. I will shake hands … Anak, ilang [beses] ko bang sinasabi na sa iyo na kung tawagin ang Diyos sa oras na ito, pupunta na ako. Tapos na ako. Naging Presidente na ako, pinakamataas na maabot ng isang tao, mga anak ko okay na,” he said.

That’s easy for him to say because he has access to top medical facilities should he acquire the virus from ignoring protocols. He could have a doctor come to the Malacañang anytime the need arises, should he exhibit symptoms.

Meanwhile, the people he meets, the ones he purports to serve, and continue to have physical contact at the risk of offending them? Nothing. They would have to cram their way into crowded hospitals, whose testing and treatment capabilities are subpar to countries like South Korea who’s leading the charge against COVID-19 through accessible and fast medical testing.

We are already at a disadvantage prior to the rise of COVID-19 cases here and abroad when the administration cut the health allocation from the national budget by P10 billion. Clearly, no one would have predicted this situation would occur but isn’t it in the greater public interest to maintain a humane budget just in case things like this happens?

For us to be able to get through this global epidemic, we’ll need more than just public awareness, although that helps a lot. We’ll need people in power to acknowledge the gravity of this outbreak, to take it seriously, to take concrete actions that could benefit most Filipinos.

That the President finds the most basic need for social distancing ridiculous and that his followers are likely to follow his example is a recipe for disaster. No amount of public information drive can inform an ignorant administration.

The hope is that we are smart enough to know the importance of this, not just to protect ourselves but also to give those who can’t a fair chance at surviving this outbreak.

Header photo screengrabbed from Presidential Communications (Government of the Philippines) livestream

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