Salmonella strikes.
The Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) orders the recall of our favorite Ludy's Peanut Butter from store shelves.
Here clearly is a case of science directly determining a political decision. Can you imagine if science were not there to tell us that our children are getting sick because of ingesting their favorite peanut butter sandwich laced with salmonella?
Salmonella is a bacteria that is a major cause foodborne diseases. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), salmonella infection usually appear 12–72 hours after contamination, and include fever, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, nausea and sometimes vomiting. Illness usually lasts up to 7 days, and most people recover without treatment. However, especially in the very young and seniors and in cases when the bacteria enter the bloodstream, antibiotics may be needed.
If we did not have this information we would have disinformation. Disinformation coupled with people’s seething passions over their sick children could lead to anything.
Such information backed up by credible scientific authority is what we need to make better policies in our polities.
Let’s take the case of the environment. We need to clean up the Pasig River and make it alive once more? Science has the answer. But we also need the political will to make science do its magic in river rehabilitation.
A more telling related case for our poor, the MASA, is the issue of cheap medicines. The law on cheap medicines barely passed Congress given the lobbying of powerful interests. Even with the cheap medicines law, we are not assured of access to quality medicines. Much more needs to be done and our doctors and scientists would be in a good position to do more to show this country’s leaders that indeed medicine prices can be brought down. Hey esteemed members of Congress, we need good implementing rules and regulations.
Aghambayan says we need to take a hint from the lowly salmonella.
Perhaps we should serve peanut butter sandwiches to our honorable members of Congress who love to munch (on national TV) as they untiringly tackle Chacha in their brazen attempt to perpetuate themselves in power.
And we wonder how many in Malacañang love Luli's...er...Ludy's.
It is true that there is much to do and appropriate policies to implement but the leaders of this country focus on more irrelevant and interest- centered issues. Take note that I did not refer to those leaders as 'our' leaders but just as the leaders of this country. I believe that to deserve to be called as our leaders, these politicians and government officials should actually do something that would benefit the people of the Philippines, more importantly the marginalized and poor. But how could they do their jobs properly when they take more days off than really going to work. I would like to remind all the Congressmen and Senators that their job is to propose, pass and implement laws and policies that would not only help the country for the time being but more importantly on the long run. It is not their job to involve themselves in patronage politics in order to secure reelection. Moreover, it is definitely not their job to corrupt the money of the people in order to make themselves wealthier. I've heard stories about more than qualified politicians who run for office again but unfortunately do not get reelected because they did their job diligently and accordingly. I think that even if it is a sad reality, it is true that the culture of politics here in the Philippines revolves around corruption and not genuine service and leadership. I just hope that in the coming election... we would think critically and wisely and vote for the right candidate.
ReplyDeleteLean Belleza
ReplyDeleteAs far as the last discussion which relates Science with Development is concerned, I can definitely say that this article is a good epitome to articulate that Development is Science(Sir Louie told me that this article is fit for me to be answered). Also, Development can only be reached with the help of Science. Practically, science is defined as the systematized body of knowledge and so on but if it is related to Development, I could say that Development can be achieved through a systematized or organized way. We could not achieve progress, growth or development by just being "bara bara" with it. Moreover, this article emphatically tells that communication is part of the game. Wherein the course DEVCOMM suddenly coursed through my mind. In addition, Science is evident and important for the fact that through the events of science regarding development of policies which authorities decide upon (e.g. bills of murang gamot" is a good help to back them up to pass certain bills. Furthermore, I would like to react that it is amazing to know that Science is one of the answers that could lead to development. Thus, coining to a term, "science of development". When you master this science, then the rest of politics, and good governance together with a sustainable rich economy will follow.
It is a bleak reality that lawmakers are not really concerned with ratifying laws that address the needs of the people. On-cam, they are these seemingly concerned and efficient politicians who resiliently battle graft and corruption and fight for the rights of the masses. However, in reality, it is all just a ploy so that voters would easily associate them with this image they are trying to put across. An example of which is their infamous function to conduct inquiries in aid of legislation. It is a fact that this role should only be an instrument to help legislators draft law or to properly charge corrupt officials. But what happens here is that it became a ground for politicians to project themselves as the seemingly knight-in-shining-armors of the public. What is even worse with this is that no consensus or resolutions ever came out from these so-called intensive investigations. Politicians are just too eager to move on to another hot topic when the uproar wears down on one particular issue. Furthermore, over the years, the congress has also simply become an arena of legislative bargaining where various vested interests compete to deter the legislation of a certain law such as the cheaper and quality medicine act and the reproductive health bill. More often than not, legislators are effortlessly captured by certain powerful individuals, who try to advance their personal interests even if it is against the general welfare of the people, through funding their electoral campaigns. With this, it is my contention that to ensure this country of good leaders, revamping of the electoral process is really needed. It is for the reason that as corruption begins during electoral campaigns, it is important to restructure it already in such a way that private funds should be limited to a certain amount only so that no entity could possibly place such a strong hold on politicians and effectively influence policymaking as well.
ReplyDeletewe have to accept that not all politicians, not to mention the politicians-to-be, are there for their own benefit namely money and perhaps status but there are those who really want to serve the country. Voting for the future candidates whose positions will make an impact on the country holds the key to society's advancement or else the whole society will suffer. As we all know politicians have the means to cause an issue to reach the press and cause an uproar if they want, it just concerns me how they make a ruckus as they mindlessly not think things through like approving of a new law and such. They often think that it is for the good of the majority but when implemented it does more harm than good. Talk about "what you dont know cant hurt you" which reminds me of how the government ignores the big cigarette companies, to think that the word government is even printed on cigarette boxes stating: "government warning: cigarette smoking is dangerous to your health." And the fact that gambling is prohibited by the government but why are lotteries allowed ran by none other than yours truly the government. In times like these, it takes advocacy to make others aware of the seriousness of the situation and group effort as we convince others especially the government to change their ways and take part in rehabilitation and betterment of the country. We have to thank science for establishing facts; if used correctly with politics, it can lead to an even better future with development and making life convenient for people.
ReplyDeleteIt is tragic to realize that we humans don't have anything safe to eat. It's not like there hasn't been problems in food. Every now and then, the news is talking about something wrong with some food product.
ReplyDeleteIt is saddening to know that it is hard for the people to buy cheap medicine. The members of Congress should really pay more attention to what the people need, on the double.
Congressmen perpetuating themselves to power? Now that sounds really, really wrong. Maybe 'they' will never learn that power has time for itself, like everything else in the world. Everybody knows that nothing will last forever, and nobody should try to change this for their own selfishness.
Jin Hwa Choi [DLSU POLISCI C33]
It seems that today every food product we buy has something on it. What is happening to the world! And the government should allow free medicine to people who are truly in need of medical attention because I have noticed that they are only focus on the profits gained.
ReplyDeleteJacqueline Shi Ong [DLSU CBE POLISCI C33]
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ReplyDeleteThe fact that the cheap medicines law barely passed shows us how profit-minded our government is. The medical needs of the people should be more important. Cheap medicine for the masses is also another way for the country to improve and progress.
ReplyDeleteDLSU STUDENT POLISCI C33
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ReplyDeleteIt's obvious that majority of people in power really don't care about the poor people. All they care about is promoting themselves so that they can still be in power or gaining even more for themselves. That is why the cheaper medicines law barely passed. And that is also why it will probably poorly implemented.
ReplyDeletePowell Lu (CBE POLISCI C33)
It's quite evident that there is something going wrong in the government but people tend to not notice it. Just like the case of the midicines, there are alot of poor people and we can't prevent people from getting sick. It is natural that a person would get sick at least once a year. So obviously, we all need medicine. In some cases, you would be fine the following day but there are certain bacteria that infect us seriously and in worst cases you have to go to a doctor and have it check up. Usually, the medications are prolong up to several days but we can't ignore the expenses from the medicines. How could a person who earns 300 pesos a day buy a tablet worth more than 60 pesos which he has to take 3 times a day? It is like worse that telling them to starve. It is sad that the government only cares for their power. I thought the government existed for the people. If it was really for the people, why didn't they do anything about it? It seems that that phrase was just a show up to the people.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteBacterium and Politics
ReplyDeletePeople's health is one factor that the government should focus on. In our time today, we can't say that everything is safe. Even our trusted brands can bring sickness to us. There is danger in almost everything that we intake. But I think that the government is not focusing on people's health as much as they should. Instead of quarreling about the case of Hayden Kho and other not so important issues, why don't they focus more on what the people need as of the moment? I think that they are just using the topics said above so that they will be known when election time comes. There are more important things to be talked about and people's health is one of them. Yes, they may talk about it for some time but I don't think that they are taking big actions in helping the people.
The people need information. As the saying says, "Ignorance is not an excuse." People have the right to know what is going on and what they need to do. If people don't have the right information, I wonder how many people will die because of ignorance. The people should be guided too. Cleaning and protecting our natural resources should be a main concern of the government before it's gone and, also, pollution can be the source of numerous diseases.
The people need medicine. I know that corruption is inevitable to politicians but I think that some decisions that they make are too unreasonable. For example, I notice a mayor replacing the former mayor's work with the same kind of work as well (ex. replacing the multicolored streetlights). Imagine, millions of pesos being put to the politician's pocket again. Instead of using that money for that kind of project, why not use it for medicine and health services? In other countries, these services are free. Why can't it be done in this country as well?
Maria Theresa M. Nogoy
C33 POLISCI
ID #: 10935746
Da Eun K. Lee (CBE)
ReplyDeleteC33 POLISCI (DLSU)
What do we expect of course we need to pay much for quality. It is everywhere for a good education we need so much of money even our basic needs cost a lot.
ReplyDelete"Marami kasing mukang pera" in short gahaman..
Dapat libre na yang mga basic needs natin dahil bansa rin naman natin ang makikinabang. Kung mgabibigay sila ng magandang klaseng edukasyon sino rin ba ang paglilingkuran ng mga propesyunal na to diba sariling bayan din..
Thats why many people are going out because they want more. Of course they have payed a lot so they are expecting to earn a lot.
What am i pointing to If the government gave this for free then we also service our own country even whats the salary.
Support is another term that we lack it's obvious wherever. :D
Bravo.... another political observation. As the leader of the supreme court would say.."NOTED". It really is the same thing as asking every Filipino, "Would you die for your country?". And yet the question asked is a lot harder than having the guts to stand up and make the initiatives and plans to clean our environment. Funny thing is, if you look and study our government, it involves itself in high money making matters than high cost ventures. Which would you prefer? The irony of being elected to serve the people and end up helping themselves to the corruption of making the grade... oops I mean making it rich.
ReplyDeleteAll our leaders have to do is look back before they were elected and recall their promises or empty promises if not meant. Then just maybe we have a chance of cleaning up the country for one.
Darlene Co POLISCI C33