By Nora Soriño
ILIGAN City ― If there’s such a thing as “gulpe de gulat,” there’s such a thing as “EO de gulat,” too.
Meaning, the operative word here is “gulat.” As in “shocked!”
That was what Executive Order 291 did. As in “shocking” to many of the people here. Because said EO signed by city mayor Celso G. Regencia Nov. 9 was deemed as “effective” Nov. 16. That every aspect of the city's life would require vaccine cards.
Like drivers of public utilities, transports should not drive without those cards. Commuters should not ride those vehicles without those cards. People doing some selling should not do so without those cards They should not transact with government offices without presenting their cards Or that establishments should not allow people inside without those cards. Or else!
Huh? And November 16?
So, two days before that date, people came spinning. I mean lining in four vaccination sites to get vaccinated so they can get their cards.
On second thought though, “spinning” is also the right word to describe the now panic-driven people. As in the song, “round and round I go in circles, trying to be free…”
How could several thousand people be accommodated all at once in only four vaccination sites?
God, it was a stampede waiting to happen! In other words, the days before Nov. 16 were a repeat of that superspreader afternoon of Oct. 8.
Social media then were swamped with angry expressions. Not to be outdone, radio stations too. The lawyers flew their flyers of its “illegality.” The EO, they said, is complete with details of RA 11525. Complete with dates and when this was signed by the House Speaker, the Senate President, and PRRD.
Even Congressman Frederick Siao said, “it wasn’t a well-planned move by this LGU.” Although he encouraged people to get vaccinated. To note, he’s on the opposite side of the political fence. So...
These days though, sanity has somewhat returned to this city even as a group of petitioners led by one Prof Godofredo Dimamay had petitioned a court here re its legality or the lack of it. Among its logic was, per Section 2 of said RA “the experimental nature of Covid 19 vaccines available in the market…”
And then we weren’t ready for another “gulat.” For on-air, someone had asked: “Is the mayor and vice vaccinated?”
The anchor seemed to be struck by something hard. For he answered after being speechless for a few seconds: “Ah…we’ll ask them…”
Next “gulat” please.
(Email: norasorino2@gmail.com)
