Vaccine

Erring village execs

June 10, 2021 People's Tonight 440 views

THE Filipino people now support the government’s all-out campaign against erring barangay officials amid the still “raging” coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

In fact, President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to hit hard at these “non-performing” public servants across the country.

Duterte issued the order after the continued failure of some barangay authorities to stop the holding of “super spreader” events in their respective areas of responsibility.

And yesterday, DILG Secretary Eduardo Ano, a former chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), reported the filing of various charges against nine barangay officials.

Facing charges are Barangay Chairmen Romeo Rivera, Ernan Perez, Marcial Lucas Melodie Palad, Facipico Jeronimo, Jaime Laurente, Jason Talipan. Jimmy Solano and Jessica Cadungog and Kagawad Arnel Saenz.

Certainly, there are good lessons that can be picked up from the filing of charges against erring barangay officials.

“Kailangan talagang maghigpit ang mga otoridad dahil super bilis makahawa ang mga bagong variant ng COVID-19,” said a long-time barangay health worker.

Note that Secretary Ano, a known disciplinarian, has stated, quite clearly, that he would go after lax village authorities without fear nor favor as ordered by the Chief Executive.

As public servants, village officials, particularly barangay chairmen, are duty-bound to enforce laws, rules and regulations, including quarantine health protocols.

And the ordinary people who want to stop the further spread of the deadly virus must as well report the holding of all “super spreader” events, like birthday parties, in their localities.

Kung hindi ay baka hinding-hindi na matatapos ang pandemyang ito na sobrang nagpapahirap sa ating lahat, lalong-lalo na ang mga mahihirap sa buong bansa.

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