By John Clifford Lintao
CITING lack of discipline as among the factors that significantly contributed to the spread of the deadly virus, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) reinstated shelved advocacy campaign on discipline in an apparent bid to compel compliance on minimum health standards in the time of COVID-19.
Interior Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said the DILG and the Department of Health launched a “new chapter” despite nasty remarks and criticisms on a program that was branded by netizens as “militaristic.”
“Lagi na lang daw penalties, lagi na lang daw police operation, lagi na lang daw kung anu-ano. So minabuti namin na magkaroon naman ng ibang programa na naka-focus naman sa kooperasyon ng mga tao,” he said at the virtual launch of “Bida Ang May Disiplina: Solusyon sa COVID-19.”
The campaign was originally launched last year to build on gains from nationwide road clearing operations.
This time, Malaya said they thought to promote a community-centered approach in which barangay officers themselves can encourage their neighbors and constituents to follow minimum health standards, such as wearing masks, frequently washing hands, and practicing physical distancing.
In the launch of the refocused campaign last August, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año urged local officials to organize “Disiplina Brigades” in all barangays for this purpose.
Malaya added that the “culture of discipline” must be instilled into Filipinos to ensure their safety from COVID-19 when they return to work.
Secretary Carlito Galvez, chief implementer of the national policy against COVID-19, said last July that Filipinos’ behavior and the influx of returning overseas workers have contributed to the COVID-19 situation in the country.
Weeks before he made the remark, a London-based group found that 91 percent of Filipinos wear masks when they go out, making the Philippines second only to Singapore in terms of the use of masks outdoors.
Galvez claimed however that Metro Manila residents observe health standards more than those who live in the provinces. He said he has seen people not observing social distancing and holding “buffets” and “celebrations” despite restrictions on mass gatherings.