This Week in Media (January 3 to 7, 2022)
Post-holiday increase in COVID cases rattles the country
THE FIRST week of the year was a bad start for 2022.
First off, a case of blatant misconduct based on the rather common moral failure among Filipinos who flaunt their sense of entitlement. The case of Gwyneth Chua had social media abuzz with indignation. But media accounts lacked the boldness with which to report the authorities’ questionable handling of the culprit.
A Filipino returning from the US, Chua tested positive for the virus, and yet skipped the required quarantine period in Berjaya Hotel in Makati City, went partying, and contaminated countless contacts as a result.
CMFR cheered the Philippine Daily Inquirer’s editorial which not only pointed out the failure to impose immediately appropriate punitive measures, but contrasted it with the treatment of ordinary citizens who violated quarantine protocols.
Continuing failures on the COVID front
On the pandemic front, the national positivity rate as of January 6 was at 36.9 percent. Only two weeks prior, the rate had been less than one percent. A steep increase in new cases daily in the course of just three days, from January 4 to 6, counted the steady rise from 5,400, to 10,500, to 17,200.
Also on January 6, the Philippine Genome Center detected 29 new cases of the Omicron variant since its presence in the country was first confirmed on December 15. The new count brings the total of detected Omicron cases to 32.
To stem the transmission of COVID-19, the Metro Manila Council decided to impose mobility restrictions on the unvaccinated. The Palace is mulling the extension of the policy throughout the country.
News coverage followed each official announcement on the COVID-19 situation, offering little assurance to a besieged public that authorities know what they are doing and will be able to address the threat of another surge.
The relaxed restrictions during the holidays had encouraged more people to go out, just as the country was recording a downward trend. The government has done it again: losing its gains with short-sighted policies such as targeting a spike in tourism. Any easing of restrictions must be met with a range of preventive measures to protect public health, but none of the agencies have really focused on these needs.
Meanwhile, as cool temperatures signal the flu season, the shortage of paracetamol and other analgesics caused long lines at drugstores, adding to the public’s increasing sense of siege.
Mass testing
Sadly, the media did not take on a more critical stance toward the easing of restrictions when the threat of Omicron loomed in December. News coverage had merely quoted official statements and then followed the trail of travelers around the country.
Given the post-holiday situation, some lawmakers repeated their calls for free mass testing due to the rising number of cases, but the Palace maintained it could not implement this due to limited funds. The Health department said such a strategy was “not rational.” No account, however, examined the budget allocations for these expenses in 2021, which if lacking has to be blamed on the neglect of government agencies responsible for pandemic response.
Coverage has not provided a more expanded assessment of health funding for 2022. A few reports referred to the observation of Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate that the DOH budget suffered significant cuts but did not add much to the discussion of the issue.
CMFR cheered The Philippine Star’s editorial that pointed to the necessity of testing and tracing in preventing COVID surges, and how the government has consistently lacked appreciation of these measures.
Vaccination woes
Following the return to Alert Level 3 of the capital, the Metro Manila Council passed a resolution on January 3 urging the implementation of local ordinances that limit the movements of the unvaccinated to essential trips. All 17 mayors and the Benhur Abalos, the chair of the Metro Manila Development Authority, approved the resolution. As of press time, Quezon City, San Juan City and Taguig City have passed their respective ordinances.
Media picked up what President Duterte had to say in his “talk to the people,” suggesting that barangay officials apprehend violators.
Unfortunately, the media did not call attention to the lack of government disclosure on whether the vaccination program had already succeeded in reaching the targets it set for coverage in key areas, including Metro Manila and other urban areas.
Because government has not provided such information, the media have allowed this crucial assessment to be ignored. Journalists have not asked the question they should ask: What has kept the government from accomplishing the goals it had set for itself?
Pre-election season
Meanwhile, some parties worry about their candidates or lack thereof.
As if flouting the rules were second nature to them, the PDP-Laban Cusi faction filed a petition on December 31 asking the Comelec to reopen the filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs).
CMFR cheered Inquirer.net’s report that provided evidence that the Cusi faction wasted the filing period last year, and that they only have themselves to blame for their woes.
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