Some thoughts on #COVIDー19 in PH. I've said before, the frontline agencies of the government have civil servants who approach health emergencies professionally. There's institutional memory/experience from handling SARS, etc. Cases identified are due to official vigilance.
Where the public has been less than impressed, it's fair to say, is at the top, policy-making level, ranging from taking time to summon a cabinet-level meeting, to proposals to foster local tourism and hold mall sales to attract international tourists, which was compounded by...
...Sec. of Health seemingly being unaware of the scheme. IMHO front line does a lot, but has to be backed up by top level officialdom working together and having a cohesive plan which requires cabinet to coordinate with each other and a properly briefed chief executive. The...
...private sector for its part, has to worry about reputational damage and tries to be proactive in informing/reassuring the public but some have expressed concern not enough coordination is happening with DOH, which can only foster public unease or even mistrust. The DOH has...
...a page with consolidated information, and hopefully both media and the public help disseminate it's existence more.
But the basics remain: the precautions to take, from frequent hand-washing to maintaining social distances; keeping up to date on advisories from the authorities, and to contact the authorities with any information and concerns you may have.
The authorities are far from perfect and I for one am critical of the top-level people; but they are the only authorities we have and the more they are informed, the better they can plan, and work; the better they plan and work, the safer we will all be, it's a virtuous cycle.
Remaining in ignorance or shrinking back because we're less than impressed or pleased, on the other hand, guarantees failure for everyone.
So start here, and if there's anything that can be improved, suggest improvements. doh.gov.ph/2019-nCoV
