Unlocking Resiliency

      

The COVID-19 pandemic is a game-changer, one moment we were in control, then the next moment, we are not. It has brought many problems to our country economically, educationally, and in our personal lives affecting mental and emotional health as well as the personal businesses of many people. The blaring news from radios or televisions filled with statistics of COVID-19 cases and death rates, citizens in a frenzy, the stall of the economic sector, and our agriculture struggling is a constant reminder of what our situation is—reminding us with the brunt felt by COVID-19, that we are struggling. Despite implementing the world's longest and strictest lockdown, it seems that the virus still has the Philippines by our neck, but I know—with the right key, we are able to open the door towards a resilient Philippines against COVID-19.

    The government’s response to the health crisis of our country is implementing a militarized approach to containing COVID-19. The presence of police and military officers on the streets is visible, imposing fear rather than safety and guidance due to the permission given by President Duterte to shoot those who do not follow protocols and impose punishments. The declaration of the president to “shoot” has infuriated the general public, even more so when he announces to implement Philippines under a martial law-like lockdown due to the complacency of Filipinos under quarantine order which is the cause of more visible police and military personnel that has led to the arrest of many Filipinos with alleged violations, in order to ensure strict compliance with the lockdown order. During these trying times, a protest and a pandemic are not what the government and the nation needs, but with the large population of human rights activists that strongly oppose the Duterte administration and its movements, it is inevitable. One of the factors that have contributed to the surge of COVID cases is the unwillingness to close the borders on China, most likely because they are a key strategic patron, the repetitive implementation and easing of quarantine that has increased contact and mobility to the population and the “pasaway” Filipinos who are unable to consistently follow simple and proper health standards. To make matters worse the Department of Health and the PhilHealth Insurance Corporation has been hounded by allegations of corruption.

     In responding to a public health crisis the government should have implemented coherent and effective preventive measures, provide medical emergency care and assure the security and safety of the nation that they have access to the resources that they need as well as explicitly informing the public on health issues based on hard scientific facts and evidence, steps must also be taken to make health more accessible through affordable healthcare and cheaper medicines. Information campaigns should be designed to educate the public on how to keep themselves healthy through proper diets and good lifestyle choices. The government should have immediately imposed a lockdown as well as closed borders to prevent the spread of the virus, the government should have established a task force composed of leading public health experts instead of appointing military and police personnel to manage the public health crisis. The government should have shown compassion in these trying times instead of imposing a sliver of fear on its authoritarian ways, they should have been the first to take the global crisis seriously, instead, they may be the first who had underestimated and mocked the global health crisis.

    Though flawed, the government's movement on containing COVID-19 is not at all in vain, lives are saved albeit overshadowed by the overwhelming death rates and cases, the Philippine government can still set their priorities straight during the pandemic and improve or hone its implementations. Yes, the government lacks in many areas and their impositions have led to the country and the citizens suffering, but the blame should not all be shouldered on them for we as citizens have also lacked on cooperating and following proper health protocols and health standards. The government needs the country’s cooperation and unity, and the country needs the government's effective and coherent implementations in order for the Philippines to unlock its resiliency against COVID-19.

References:

https://tinyurl.com/militarycheckpoints

https://blog-iacl-aidc.org/2020-posts/2020/6/18/the-militarized-response-to-the-covid-19-pandemic-in-the-philippines-an-escalating-threat-to-human-rights

https://blog-iacl-aidc.org/2020-posts/2020/6/18/the-militarized-response-to-the-covid-19-pandemic-in-the-philippines-an-escalating-threat-to-human-rights

https://blog-iacl-aidc.org/2020-posts/2020/6/18/the-militarized-response-to-the-covid-19-pandemic-in-the-philippines-an-escalating-threat-to-human-rights

https://blog-iacl-aidc.org/2020-posts/2020/6/18/the-militarized-response-to-the-covid-19-pandemic-in-the-philippines-an-escalating-threat-to-human-rights