PART of the crisis in our communities is the lack of alcohols and hand-sanitizers, as protocols for “personal hygiene” and public/ private establishments (restaurant, business enterprise etc.), government offices providing said necessities, as visibly available, and ideally located at door entrances, tables, front desks, etc. We learn from observing the psychology of our countrymen, when garbage cans are spread in convenient areas, in ample number, most likely, people are reminded to throw trash into the collection bin, rather than take long steps to dispose of refuse or to locate one. The social phenomenon applies to alcohol or hand sanitizing stations, as well.
The obvious elephant in the room is, do we even have a stable supply of alcohols or hand sanitizers in domestic production? Foreign sourcing with the world experiencing a shortage in medical supplies and equipment related to combatting the dreaded COVID-19?
In response to the Korean
War, the US Congress passed The Defense Production Act in 1950 as part of the “broad civil defense and war mobilization effort”. The rationale of the Federal Law was “to establish a system of priorities and allocations for materials and facilities, authorize the requisition thereof, provide financial assistance for expansion of productive capacity and supply, provide for price & wage stabilization, settlement of labor disputes, strengthen controls over credit and by these measures facilitate the production of goods & services necessary for the national security and other purposes”.
Proposing similar legislation in our congress, will empower the president in present and future eventualities. For example, the current alcohol deficiency. If such law existed, Malacanang would be authorized to deal with local distillery, wine makers, etc. to repurpose their production line (even 100%) to meet the demand for our people. Such executive power is vital in what is a national security threat.
