The Philippine Government as a Whole Dips at an All-time Low

Eversince the Philippine Government acquiesced to the World Health Organization's and world's richest pirate Bill Gates' questionable ministrations of the now infamous Covid-19 scam, it has dipped into its lowest level as fascist-style provincial leaders and national policy-makers compete with one another in coming up with one senseless declaration to another among the few:
1. Lockdown despite the fact that sunlight at 24 degrees C kills the virus, how much more at 40+ degree C in the Philippines!!! This has closed down the majority of businesses due to the very limited mobility of common, daily taxpayers. Many people lost their jobs, means of livelihood, but most of all, many 24-hour airconditioned lame government officials lost their already depraved senses!
2. Paranoid checkpoints. With the keywords "outbreak" came the adoption of the quarantine  law to the extreme when in truth,  the detection of the disease has never been established by the entire DoH which relied mainly on U.S. examples with test supplies provided by China, known globally for unreliability. The virus is very similar to the common colds, cough, & flu virus so that many who are tested turned  positive based on dubious tests. LGUs mandated all entry/exit points to check temperatures despite the lack of relevance of the scam virus to Philippine setting causing massive mobility problems for the already limited pedestrians who are out only to buy food, medicine or so-called "frontliners" (mainly health workers who are less dazed than their nepotistic-guessing-game superiors). In fact, like those who use only motorbikes or tricycles were not allowed to share rides even if a couple are married or family members. They were also asked of government issued ID, their community pass, fill up a form in road entrypoints, groceries, shops, and all establishments, state their temperatures, their purposes for being there, with masks, sprayed with the mighty alcohol, and if found to be minors  or senior citizens, ostracised even more by being banned everywhere outside their homes. Many seniors who live on their own have been virtually slapped DIE! as no one was exactly assigned by the government to attend to their needs. Except for the occasional relief goods, the seniors and trapped marginalized in cities are the much-neglected and abused in this scare scam.
3. Quarantine & isolation. The DoH itself has admitted that LGUs are left on their own devices on how to go about their own C19 problems. And as pseudo-federalists, many have taken the quarantine law to extremes. One example was experienced by Pulso's own photographer who traveled to Ilocos Sur to work. Despite the negative rapid test result in a vehicle provided for by the government, with all passengers negative of the virus, he had been isolated for 14 days by the commando nurse Wilhelmina Tinaza of Santo Domingo. The Pulso team will later learn that another traveler from Cavite residing in Vacunero had been allowed to home quatantine without much ado.
This team approached the DoH and the team of Asst. Secretary Lacsama endorsed his re-testing to the office of Dr. Singson, but the governor's namesake had to wait for the busy governor's opinion for a P1800(?) test. In fact, the doctor's lone provincial staff Ginglil Rabot refuses to accept a taxpayer's letter request, unless you speak to her in English beyond her comprehension.
On another report in Cabugao, the mayor's opposition travelers were also slapped the same maddening isolation for 14 days, but relatives attending their funeral were not.
4. Travel & mobility. The most outrageously boggling system adopted in this devastating scam was the travel system and mobility of peoples. When going out from one province to another, people are required a travel pass that assumes all have their own private cars at their disposal (vehicle photo, registration, driver with photo of professional driver's license, date of travel), and now, C19 testing rumored at P1800 ($36) to P3500 ($186). Another wrenching experience for those who are already hard-pinched, no-job-ekeing-out Filipinos. As mentioned, the poor are not allowed to share a ride in their motorbike or tricycle even if they share the same bedspace or home! The genious of the government tried to whitewash their breach with a more idiotic suggestion, which is the motorbike division as shown below.
Unfortunately, the contraption prevents refilling of fuel.

There are more aweful deeds by what taxpayers call "palamon" (a Tagalog term similar to parasites) in this un-Godly scam, like a lot of non-office workdays with hazard pays, but let's first join  hands and work out a class suit to sue these scums of the earth. About time.

Who will Save the Daily Taxpayers???

By Paulino Jose Misa

After waiting 6 months for the DOH to tell me something new, it is quite obvious that we need a NEW PLAN that does not depend on anyone but OURSELVES.

The big question - Why we are not gaining ground despite doing everything the most successful countries are doing? Two answers. A) We are not doing it properly and B) There is something they may be doing but are not saying.

FACT: COVID is most contagious during the first 5 days of showing symptoms of infection.

Not having a plan-- not knowing what to do other than have a swab test, is actually the main problem. This is mainly due to the fact that it takes several days after feeling the symptoms just to get over the fear of COVID and the initial reaction of DENIAL. You basically don't want to know or get tested until it is too late, especially if you are told that YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING but wait for the inevitable. By that time you may have already infected many other people. Having a plan will at the very least keep that to a bare minimum.

So what is the DOH recommended protocol? After hand-washing, mask-wearing and social distancing, all you can do is WAIT for the symptoms, WAIT until you can overcome your fear of finding out and get a swab test, WAIT for the swab test results, WAIT to find out if yours is a mild (90%) or a severe (10%) case, and if it is indeed severe, WAIT again while you cross your heart and hope not to die.

Operative word: WAIT. And, that my friends, is WHAT IS REALLY KILLING US rather than the virus itself.

But WAIT! Is there really nothing you can do, as the DOH seems to think? Well, the good news is OF COURSE NOT! This is the plan:

ANYTIME you feel even the slightest throat itch, if you can get herbal eucalyptus oil or rub WITHOUT CAMPHOR (CAMPHOR is dangerous), just apply it on your mask. Breathe in through your mouth and exhale through your nose and vice versa, By the time the eucalyptus starts to fade in a minute or two, the itch should be gone. This is the first line of defense, perhaps not even against COVID but rather from stressing out. The best thing is that you can do this anytime, anywhere. This should work up to 99% of the time. Instant relief from itch, even more relief from stress and worry!

If you still feel any symptoms, then try to do TUOB ASAP regardless of what the DOH might say. It is at least infinitely safer than being a guinea pig for some new drug or vaccine, costs NOTHING, and can be done in 15-30 minutes. Put a few drops of eucalyptus oil too. Repeat a few hours later if you still don't feel normal.

If you still feel COVID symptoms after doing that, then you probably might have COVID and should follow the protocols as you will then already have begun to be contagious, if ever. Is this a cure for COVID? Who knows and who cares? (WHO and the DOH apparently DOESN'T care) If it does, great! Your worries will be gone in an instant.

BUT if it doesn't it is still quite useful because it will tend to eliminate other reasons and also be the early warning signal to take precautions to stop contaminating others as well as to more actively try to strengthen your immune system. This might also help avoid the infection from becoming severe. Might? Well, don't you think "might" is way better than NOTHING?

If this can be done on the first day, by the second day you can already isolate yourself and avoid infecting others as you become more contagious. The main reason the virus spreads so easily is that most are in denial for the first 3 or 4 days when they are actually already contagious. This alone may be the key to stopping the spread. It is free. You need no one but yourself and the willingness and determination to stay alive. How hard is that?

The key is to be able to do it at the slightest sign or suspicion when the virus is at the gates and has yet to enter your body. This is the last chance to apply external methods to get rid of it (or other viruses as well) if ever.

AGAIN, is this a cure for COVID? WHO knows? (Actually WHO might know but is not interested) Even if it isn't, it is a cheaper, faster, DIY method that anyone can do IMMEDIATELY at ANY TIME that may possibly just as accurate in diagnosing COVID by process of elimination. If only EVERYONE could do it, it would ELIMINATE 95% of the stress, fear & worry for having to constantly wonder. It would drastically cut the costs of dealing with the virus in so many ways by perhaps just as much and MOST IMPORTANTLY  , regardless of whether it really works to kill the virus or not, it would REDUCE the SPREAD by warning the people to isolate themselves SOONER THAN LATER.

Certainly sounds much more reasonable than bike shields, don't you think? All it takes is for ALL of us to simply DEPEND ON OURSELVES, SPREAD THE WORD regardless of what any authorities and "experts" might say, and make a UNITED EFFORT to take our lives in our hands to protect our lives and that of our loved ones and fellow citizens. It COSTS practically NOTHING. All it takes is IMMEDIATE ACTION by EVERYONE.

Now, does this sound like a plan or not?

If you agree, kindly share on your wall as well as PM your friends. If we can make this viral we might be able to stop this virus much sooner than later simply by making a really small effort. Certainly much easier than going out to rally or lining up for ayuda. LET'S MAKE  A DIFFERENCE. LET'S MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

DoH earned wrath of Netizens!

Barely 3 hours after posting a warning to netizens that they should refrain from doing traditional colds, cough, and flu cure to address Covid19 specifically steambath and use of citrus, the embattled Department of Health (DoH) headed by its notoriously infamous secretary Francisco Duque III whose current legacy is the death of hundreds (if not thousands) of Dengvaxia vaccine recipients, thousands already assailed the post (below):

 

Some of the most popular comments with even thousands of likes include the following:

Darilyn Dela Fuente Bacay Un po kc ung praan ng mga taong hirap s buhay,yaan nlng po ntin ung gustong gawin ung tradisyunal n suob kung un po ung nagppagaan ng pakiramdam nila... hnd nmn po kau inaabala pr magpakulo ng tubig n gagamitin nila at gumagastos pr s gas n pangpakulo nila...😁😂

TRANSLATION: That is their (poor patients') way to remedy their situation, just let them be because this is a traditional medicine that helps their condition... they are not bothering you if they boil water & spend for their gas...

Nelly Gregorio Yung mga ninuno ko yan ang tinuro sa amin pag my ubo o sipon kame sa awa ng diyos nakakabgay ng ginhawa sa pakiramdam.nasa rao na yan kung gusto gawin o ayaw.sa tuob wala pang namatay

TRANSLATION: Our elders taught us that this is the cure for cough and colds, so far with God's help, it relieved us of our disease. It is up to the person if he/she wants to do steambath or not. So far, I haven't heard any death from it.

Yob Dinopol Nawalan ako ng ganang kumain at humihina ang katawan ko parang sumuko na. Tumawag ako sa dios, tulongan mo ako maibalik ko ang lakas. Naisip ko tuob sa gabe ko gingawa pinawisan ako pinunasan ko pagkatapos. Mamaya nakatulog ako at paggising ko naghahanap na ako ng pagkain. Bumalik ang gana ko sa pagkain lumakas ang katawan ko. Thanks God gumaling ako

TRANSLATION: I lost appetite and became weak I want to give up already. But I prayed for my strength to come back. I remembered to take steam-bath at night, I perspired and wiped afterward. Then I fell asleep, and when I woke up, I was hungry. I was able to eat well and my strength is back. Thank God I am well.

But many are aware of the modus operandi in government agencies, about many hands in cookie jars (government purchases) who expressed anger with the same hundreds of likes:

Alex Dela Cruz Taruc Di kasi sila magkakapera kung totoong nakakagaling ang suob. Sampal sa mga doktor at pharmaceutical company yan.

TRANSLATION: They (government people) will not have money if it's true that steam-bath can cure. It is a slap on the face of doctors and pharmaceutical companies.

Eduardo Madayag wala na kayo gusto kundi puro galing WHO...kung declare nila agad pandemic sana mas maaga naagapan..antay pa nila dumami..tapos DOH pag hanap kmi ng mkkginhawa di pwede..ala pa nga kayo gamot eh..tapos sasabihin nyo d pwede..

TRANSLATION: Nothing pleases you except those that come from WHO (World Health Organization). if they had declared immediately of a pandemic, it could have been addressed earlier. They waited for cases to multiply. And then, DOH, if we seek our own relief, it can't be...you don't have a cure yet, then you'll tell us to refrain from using our own medicine...

Vic Prado Dami nyo cnsbi.mbes na gawin nyo nlng ang dapat pra sa nkarrami.wla nman msama sa gngwa at panu mddisgrasya eh ntural mg iingat ang tao na gumgwa n2 dhil alm nmin na mainit na tubig.

TRANSLATION: You (DOH) tell us a lot of flak instead of working properly. There's nothing wrong with what people are doing, and it is only natural that they are careful because they know the water is hot.

Barely 20 hours posted, it has earned 37,000 mostly negative comments and ire with 45,000 shares. If anything, the post and its comments signify the divide between a barely working government agency and taxpayers who have grown cynical and can no longer trust the government. In a bigger picture, it shows how resilient Filipinos survive in a highly contagious, much-hyped, and controversial mutant virus.

So far, the DoH has not indicated any form of study or observation of the demographics of the virus fatalities, which many Filipinos suspect, must have been highly risky for those living in conducive, airconditioned spaces and designed against the Chinese. While considered low compared to other top causes of deaths such as circulatory, respiratory, and chronic diseases, Covid19 has turned economies upside-down including the Philippines due to unplanned lockdowns and restrained mobility. To make matters worse, its test kits, while already inroaded in their lives for mobility, work, and other purposes - remain questionable, if not highly unreliable.

Of Rice, Farmers, and Agriculture Funds

Originally: THE REAL SCORE FROM AN ENLIGHTENED TRADER & MORE CONCERNS ABOUT THE IRR
by:  Paulino Jose Misa

(This was PM'd to me by a "truly concerned" trader friend)
As you probably know, next week is the start of the harvest season for rice in Regions 1, 2 & 3. This means now is the time when farmers need to start planting the seeds for transplanting in Oct and for traders to start buying from farmers.
I have just spent the whole day with farmers from Regions 1 & 2 and was surprised to hear complaints about the low prices of palay even from those with high yields. It turns out your instincts were more spot-on than mine.
I asked the farmers about their true costs to determine their break-even, and got the following figures. You probably know these figures already, but thought of sharing them with you nonetheless to help with your analysis.
Figures are in PHP per kg of palay:
PLANTING
Seeds (hybrid) = 1.25
Labor (to help transplant the seedlings) = 1.05
[One needs around 12 persons @350/day to transplant seedlings on a hectare of land. Six is actually enough for a day’s work, I am told, but local labor tends to work deliberately slow in order to force the farmer to pay for another day’s work and to provide meals for the day. As a result, a farmer tends to hire more laborers to finish earlier. There is no difference between wages for one day or half-day.]
Fertilizer = 1.00
[This assumes 4 applications per cycle @P1,000/ha/application: before transplanting and flooding, during the vegetative stage, when panicles are forming, when palay start ripening.More might be spent depending on color of leaves, type of soil, health of palay, etc.]
Pesticides = 0.30
[This assumes 300/ha/application x 4 apps per cycle against the usual pests - leafhopper, bugs, maggot, skipper, crickets. More might be spent depending on pests.]
Total expenses during planting = 3.60/kg
HARVEST
Labor = 1.75
[20 persons are needed for 1/2 day of harvesting work per ha @ 350/person/day. As in the planting season, half this number is enough, but farmers can not afford delayed harvesting so they’d rather hire more to finish harvesting quicker. Laborers charge the same rate even for half day work.]
DRYING
Hauling of “wet” palay = 0.20
[This is the cost to haul the wet palay from the farm to a drying center. Loading rate is 4/sack and 4/sack for unloading. A sack =40kg for wet palay, 50kg for dry. Thus, a 4,000kg harvest per ha = 100 sacks when wet, 80 when dry. Handling rate is halved for provinces that use 25-kg sacks.]
Drying fee = 3.00
[This assumes the use of drying machines. Rate is reduced by 0.50 if the drying center buys the hulls (husks). Rate can also be halved if drying is done under the sun, but a farmer still needs to pay min of 1.50/kg for labor to lay the palay and turn them over at regular intervals, use of a drying area, and loading and unloading. It is now illegal to dry palay on roads.]
Transport (farm to drying center) = 0.25 .
[Standard rate is 10/sack x 100 sacks / 4,000kg. This is just to the drying center. Another 0.20 needs to be spent to transport the dried palay to a separate warehouse. Note that a 10.00/sack rate is normally for farms along farm-market roads. Rate is usually doubled for farms far from roads or when tricycles are used. Additional hauling expense might also be incurred.]
Total expense during harvest (incl drying) = 5.20
Total break-even = 8.80
Add: 20,000 minimum living expense allowance for the farmer for 4 mos. This is equivalent to 5.00/kg
Revised break-even = 13.80
[I was informed that the DA assumes a break-even of 12/kg. The farmers said the DA is ignorant of the actual field costs of labor. 14/kg seems to be a more realistic break-even.]
[At an NFA buying price of P18/kg, dry, CIF NFA, the gain of the farmer becomes 3.75/kg — since he incurs additional cost of 0.45 to haul his palay to the NFA warehouse. This converts to 15,000 if the farmer continues to yield only 4t/ha. This amount is just enough to cover cost of planting for the next season. He still needs to borrow for his own family requirements and to finance harvest.]
I have no way of confirming these numbers, but who am I to argue with the farmers themselves. I was with farmers whose yields vary from 8-12 tons/ha. Yet they too complain that the low cost of palay has forced them to reduce personal expenses or reduce some farming inputs (which consequently affect yield). I immediately thought I ought to confess to you my error.
I also discovered that about 60% of the farmers in the co-ops we contract with are under tenancy arrangements, which means at least 30% of harvest go to the landowners. In some areas, another 5% go to “people’s taxes.”

MY RESPONSE:
Thanks bro! I'm really glad you have an open mind about the issue 🙂 Would that our trader/legislators would be as concerned as you!
As you yourself can see, the farmers are really not getting all that much of even a nowhere near fair deal for the risk and effort they incur. The problem is that the farmers are always the whipping boys even if they are not actually the ones responsible for high rice prices.
It is the system by which the cartels have always controlled everything downstream including the NFA that is rotten. It is really a thankless, daunting, near impossible job for anyone wit the best intentions tasked to fix it. The DA needs to take the bull by its horns and finally set the pace for agriculture instead of simply catering to and following the lead of conflicted legislators.
Frankly, would you agree that even if traders HALVED their margins and gave it to the farmers, they would still get by BETTER than the farmers and at least have a PROFITABLE business, albeit not the accustomed hand over fist?
Certainly, there are enlightened traders who do try to at least be kinder than the cartels BUT they really can't make much of a dent on the overall picture. They are as much caught in the current as everyone else.
On the other hand, you can't change everything in a day. It has to be done step by tortuous step, in the PROPER sequence and in a manner, which everyone can keep in step with, otherwise the ever-present wise guys will just figure out how to do their usual thing and everything will again be for naught.
Take the P5B for mechanization. It is really not that simple.
Yes, mechanization would make a major difference if implemented PROPERLY. BUT it is not just a matter of bringing in the machines even if they were simply to be given away, AGAIN to the delight of the businessmen & "smart" government officials who would do the procurement.
In the first place, what about all those displaced workers who know nothing else to do? What would become of them? They might even sabotage those machines!
Secondly, what about proper operation, repair & maintenance?
Simply importing all this equipment from China which no one knows how to properly operate, maintain, repair and where to buy spare parts will only junk them the minute something breaks.
But of course, the usual suspects would all be salivating at how to get their hands on P5B to care much about anything else, wouldn't they? Would I be wrong to suspect that some people already have a plan how to supply them ASAP? 🙂
And as usual, the traders are on the ALL-WIN side while even if some farmers might gain on the one hand, a bigger majority will lose suddenly lose their already meager income (not entirely a bad thing IF they can be directed to a more profitable livelihood).
While the farmers might earn slightly more because of the increase in production, this will also be tempered by a drop in prices at the farmgate although predictably not that much at the wholesale/retail level.
How nice to be a trader!
Thus, rather than actually invest immediately on mechanization, it would make much more sense to instead EMPOWER the farmers to afford the cheaper ones which will allow the proper supply, distribution, service & spare parts channels that these machines would need in the long run to be set up in the meantime.
This can be done by eliminating the 2 biggest concerns of the farmer: having enough money to plant the crop & being properly insured against calamities. Just eliminating these 2 concerns would immediately tend to raise production. The money they would then normally have to save for these could be used by the farmers to buy at least the more affordable machines on their own.
That is why the PROPER SEQUENCE is of utmost importance.