Charles Teves
Health workers in the Philippines have been getting abused lately, as suggested by various news reports.
Back on March 24, Gerald Libiran, a health worker at the Philippine Orthopedic Center in Valenzuela City was fined P5,000 after getting caught riding a motorcycle with his brother on their way home from work.
Libiran violated Valenzuela City’s Ordinance No. 673 or Social Distancing Ordinance for having a “back rider.”
A member of the Valenzuela City Traffic Management Office did not change his mind even when the brothers presented IDs that prove they were health workers.
“Alam namin na mahigpit na pinapatupad ang social distancing, pero wala po masasakyan ang kapatid ko mula National Children’s Hospital pauwi ng Bulacan. Kaya wala kaming choice kundi i-angkas at isinabay ko na sya sa aking motorsiklo,” Libiran said.
In a text message, Valenzuela City Mayor Rex Gatchalian said he “would like nothing more than to give ‘back ride or angkas’ exemptions to our healthcare providers.”
But unfortunately “the DOTR guidelines (which are based on DOH social distancing rules) on this, simply, do not allow such exemptions.
“Motorycles are allowed for personal use, considering that they have no back riders,” he added.
Valenzuela City is “trying to find a way to lower the fine for health care providers caught back riding.”
Similarly, last Friday, a female health worker in Quezon City was also given a P5,000 fine for violating social distancing guidelines.
In a Facebook post, Michael Villanueva said his sister-in-law needed a ride because “there was no or limited” shuttle service available in Tungko, Bulacan.
They were at Commonwealth Avenue when they were stopped by the MMDA (Metropolitan Manila Development Authority).
“My sister-in-law was asked to get off the motorcycle after we were flagged down. The MMDA personnel told us that they would just find a service for her,” Villanueva said in an interview.
After 30 minutes, the MMDA allowed her to back ride again.
“The MMDA personnel told me, ‘Go, bring her to her work, since we have already issued you a ticket.’”
Actress Chai Fonacier pointed out the abusiveness of the MMDA towards health workers in a tweet.
https://twitter.com/bansheerabidcat/status/1255103879189901314?s=20
The abuse from the MMDA doesn’t stop there. On Tuesday, two oxygen tank suppliers were denied entry to a compound in Quezon City by checkpoint personnel.
Louie Bugayong and Gina Romanos were looking to deliver a tank to a patient who was having difficulty breathing, but the personnel told them that entry and exit from the compound is allowed only between 10 am to 3 pm.
“Tinext kami ng nurse na kausap namin, sabi na kailangan na ipadala ‘yung oxygen tank kasi naghihingalo na ang pasyente. Kaya nagkagulo na kami,” said Bugayong.
The purok leader did not care if the patient died, as seen in the video.
“Tinanong ko ‘yung purok papaano ang deskarte kasi ayaw kami paalisin. Sabi niya, ‘Edi mamatay ‘yan kung mamatay.”
The couple eventually got to the patient with the help of barangay officials.
President Rodrigo Duterte himself has said that frontliners should be protected at all costs because they are essential in this trying time, but unfortunately these are the people who experience injustice the most.
