In solidarity and defense of our doctors and nurses at the frontlines of COVID-19 response
The Presidential late-night address did not respond well to the collective cry of our Medical Health Workers—an appeal to declare the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) protocol for the Greater Manila Area to address the growing infections of COVID-19.
This appeal of our Medical Health Workers are for real to fight the virus, for they themselves are on the frontlines of healing and caring our sick Filipinos.
The call for an Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) should not just be dismissed by blabbermouthed propaganda, our Medical Health Workers’ call is a manifestation of telling our government: to address the pandemic with medical solutions! They have seen how not to address it: of how this government spent billions of money on failed priorities, and allow the virus to infect more; of in-effectivity of military responses; and of political minions, military men and business interests advising on COVID crisis.
Indeed, the call of our Medical Health Workers is a revolution from the heart… They want to heal our land, they want us to be free from the virus, and more importantly, they want us to take “time-out” of our fears of the COVID-19.
It is counter-revolutionary for our government, to not heed their call, and still resort to their shadowed hard-headedness at the expense of our health safety and of the plight of our front-liners. It is counter-productive again, presenting other ways to recruit doctors and nurses in a military-way, but failing to assure the guarantee of just compensation and humanitarian assistance to those who are working in hospitals since the start of the pandemic. It is counter-Filipino of not listening and responding well to the cries of our medical front-liners!
As a pastor of the people of God, I am one with our Medical Health Workers in their call and commend their continuing heroic service to the Filipino people; remembering these words in the Bible: “Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security.” (Jeremiah 33:6)
Diocese of San Carlos
