BY ERWIN ‘AMBO’ DELILAN
THE FIGHT against the novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) is no ordinary cause. It “shocked” the world.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), COVID-19 for two years now is causing a dramatic loss in human lives. Also, lots of businesses worldwide (big or small) are (almost) flattened.
There’s this unparalleled challenge, too, in public health and food delivery system. But the bitterest of all – millions of breadwinners end up jobless, get sick and even die.
Ten of millions then are expected to suffer from extreme poverty. Sad to say, until now, the COVID-19 virus remains an “unseen enemy”. Experts say its “wrath” is worse than any terrorist attack. Thus, waging war against this “invisible avenger”, one must really know the crux of the matter. Going beyond archetypal approaches and responses, somehow, is the best maneuver to win the battle.
The Province of Negros Occidental is (now) doing such. With all humility, concurrent provincial administrator and head of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF)-Negros, Atty. Rayfrando “Ray” Diaz III, confides, “The province is very soon attaining herd immunity.”
“Hopefully, it’s a merry Christmas and a happy new year for Negrosanons,” he says.
He proudly announces that, currently, three of the four COVID-19 “healing centers” in the province are now empty, and the percentage of COVID-19 admission in three designated hospitals is also plummeting.
Likewise, there are now towns and cities that are COVID-19-free. These and more, of course, are good indications that Negros is quite getting better in its fight against the pandemic.
‘MAIN WEAPON’
Atty. Ray, however, confesses that Capitol’s “main weapon” in gradually kicking COVID-19 out of the province is the Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory (MDL) or COVID-19 testing center at the Teresita Lopez Jalandoni Memorial Provincial Hospital (TLJMPH) in Silay City. It was established using the P150-millionM “Bayanihan” fund from the national government. Its main objective is to detect COVID-19 at the soonest time thru state-of-the art Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) machines. Swab test results then are available online within 24 hours.
Previously, specimens were being exported to Iloilo at the regional office of the Department of Health (DOH). The “turtle’s speed” of releasing the results, however, added to the horror, panic and dilemma. And I’ve experienced such. Really, I can’t figure out the “disquiets” of waiting for the results. But with MDL at TLJMPH, Atty. Ray declares, “We can detect quickly and act so fast and timely.”
Manned by highly-competent manpower, Capitol’s MDL is capable of producing quick results out of 1,500 tests daily. Hence, what a “marvelous undertaking” in beating COVID-19 indeed!
NO SUPERSTAR
But what caught my attention during my one-on-one interview with Atty. Ray was his pronouncement about respect and unity among Capitol’s frontliners.
He says everybody is free to suggest or offer his expertise leading to solutions. “Then, we talk about it, we discuss it, and we respect it. And such dynamic made us strong.”
Atty. Ray believes that the participation of each Capitol employee in the fight against COVID-19 is “crucial”. And the province is so “blessed” to have these committed people.
But the beauty of all, he quips, “In everything we plan and do, there’s no betrayal of trust…No superstar! All of us are in the same page regardless of our position.”
Likewise, he also acknowledges the all-out support and cooperation of Negros mayors, and the utilization of barangay health workers (BHWs) in manning the province’s anti-COVID-19 goings-on.
And so Negros is ready anew for the three-day “Bayanihan Bakunahan 2” starting today (Dec. 15).
‘FUSS’ OVER S-PaSS
Atty. Ray though confides that amid the “darkest moment,” they’ve also encountered lots of challenges that really tested his “potency” as IATF chair of the province.
But the saddest of all, he relates, “is to know or see some of our comrades in the IATF got ill and, worse, died due to COVID-19.”
Adding “spice” to the enormous challenges was the alleged manipulation of swab test results at the MDL that led to “client interference”.
But he claims it was proven that their genuine services anchored on genuine commitment really produced genuine results beyond question.
As to the recent “fuss” over S-PaSS (Safe, Swift, Smart Process) with the City of Bacolod, he says “it was just a matter of asserting our rights and jurisdiction.”
Strict adherence to the S-PaSS requirement and SOP (standard operating procedure), he stresses, is within the orb of IATF meant for thorough data/information gathering on all inbound passengers to Negros.
As to the “word war” with Bacolod’s Emergency Operation Center (EOC) head, former city administrator Em Ang, Atty. Ray appeals, “No need to amplify it anymore…No time for verbal tussle.”
Capitol is more than willing now to collaborate with Bacolod for the unison of their actions against COVID-19.
I do hope and pray this will happen soonest.
RISING TO THE MOMENT
However, rising to the moment, Bacolod’s Councilor Renecito “Inoy” Novero also shares valuable insight on discipline.
Discipline is very basic as it causes inter-related consequences (good or bad), thus, still the key to win fights, stresses Atty. Inoy.
“Too, the lack of it can cause horror of the pandemic,” he says, adding, “One breach can affect too many.”
Likewise, dirges Atty. Inoy, “Even certain religious dogmas also add to the COVID-19 issue.”
Well, it’s “fatal” to have some religious faithful not believing in vaccines and keep on denying the reality.
BEFUDDLING, INDUBITABLE
Facts and figures on COVID-19 around the world are befuddling. People’s disgust, anxiety, mental anguish, and hopelessness are heading to extremities. But Negrosanons aren’t losing hope yet.
Governor Bong Lacson is still on top of the situation, aiming to attain heard immunity in the province at the soonest time possible. And with the indubitable proof as to what the province is doing right now, the governor with Atty. Ray in the frontline, for sure, ain’t a failure.
Advocating “servant leadership” in all of their anti-COVID-19 endeavors, perhaps, is Atty.Ray’s “most powerful tool” in surmounting the trials. Open communication is also essential in winning the fight, he states. Thus, empowering everyone coupled with respect and trust in his/her own capability to offer solution(s) is probably Atty. Ray’s “noblest mission” in the light of the pandemic.
But, of course, not all understands his mandated special roles. Others portray him as a “villain” or “bully” in some instances. But let’s understand the “pressures” he is into at the height of the health contagion. Sometimes, he admits, human as he is, he wants to succumb to the demand(s) of the situation. But most of the time, he moves to suppress his ego for the sake of the Negrosanons and Negros in general. With this, let’s be thankful for having him as one of our dedicated anti-COVID-19 workers.
Atty. Ray could be a “misunderstood anti-COVID-19 conqueror” but his nonpareil contributions to our quest for herd immunity are really worthy of praise. And because of him, Negrosanons are soon to cherish the quintessence of “greatness in oneness” – Capitol’s “secret yet mightiest weapon” in winning the war on COVID-19./PN
