Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic Caught Everyone by Surprise, the

Philippines is no Exception

The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) penetrated and shaken the lives of
people worldwide with its extensive overwhelming effect. No one and no country
including the most powerful countries such as the United States of America, Russia,
Germany, France, Japan, etc. was truly prepared for it. Hence, despite many critics, I
stand that the Philippine Government did what it can with who and what it has and that
it was efficient and commendable for the effort to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.

First and foremost, we should have an understanding of what COVID-19 is.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the COVID-19 is an infectious
disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus. Most people infected with the
COVID-19 will experience mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without
requiring special treatment. Older people and those with underlying medical problems
like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, and cancer are more
likely to develop serious illness. The virus spreads primarily through droplets of saliva or
discharge from the nose when an infected person coughs or sneezes. At this time, there
are no specific vaccines or treatments for COVID-19. However, there are many ongoing
clinical trials evaluating potential treatments. As of 4:00 PM today, May 28, 2020, per
Department of Health (DOH) COVID-19 Case Tracker, the Philippines has 15, 588 cases
of COVID-19 with 3,598 recoveries and 921 deaths.

The succeeding discussions will then elaborate why I stand that the Philippine
Government was efficient and commendable for the effort to contain the COVID-19
pandemic.

A. What the government did to prevent the entry of the virus

As early as December 2019 when the WHO reported clustering of pneumonia cases
in Wuhan City, Hubie Province, China, the DOH, in close coordination with WHO
Country Office, began to carefully monitor the development of these events. On
January 6, 2020, the DOH ordered strict screening of incoming travelers and urged the
public with a history of travel to China to seek immediate medical consultation.
Subsequently, DOH implemented the mandatory accomplishment of Health Declaration
Cards for all port arrivals. Also, DOH established the nCoV Task Force and released
Health Advisories and issued the Interim Guidelines on the Preparedness and Response
to the said virus.

The government proceeded to prevent the entry of the virus by adopting different
measures. The airports and seaports were on tight watch against the threat of the virus
as the Civil Aeronautics Board indefinitely suspended all operations from Wuhan to the
Philippines, travel bans were set for individuals coming from Hubei, China and the
Bureau of Immigration (BI) ordered the suspension of the issuance of visas upon arrival
to passport holders from China. Also, repatriation of Filipinos was processed.
Nonetheless, on January 30, 2020, the DOH reported the first case of COVID-19 in the
country with a 38-year-old female Chinese national. The following day, President
Duterte issued a travel ban to foreigners coming from Hubei and anywhere in China
where there is a spread of disease. Various agencies of the government such as the
Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Trade and Industry
(DTI), Department of Tourism (DOT), Department of Transportation (DOTr),
Department of Education (DepEd), Technical Education and Skills Development
Authority (TESDA), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD),
Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Finance (DOF), Department of Budget
and Management (DBM), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)
Food and Drug Administration (FDA), etc, issued several guidelines on how to prevent
and control the virus and how to deal with the situation. And on March 16, 2020,
President Duterte declared a State of Calamity in the country for the next six months
through Proclamation No. 929 and the entire Luzon was placed in an Enhanced
Community Quarantine (ECQ).

Overall, the government and its agencies mounted a multi-sectoral response to the
COVID-19 and have been close coordinated in order to prevent the entry of the virus
and its further spread. Although there is time lapse as to their actions, it is
understandable as the government has various considerations that should be
deliberated on, hence, it cannot act so recklessly.

B. Issue regarding the medical facilities and supplies and the availability and
training of medical personnel and support staff

It is no question that the Philippines lacks medical facilities and supplies and
training of medical personnel and support staff to battle this pandemic. However, the
DOH continuously works with other government agencies and the private sectors to
provide medical supplies such as personal protective equipment (PPEs), testing kits,
testing machines, etc. It had expanded its testing capacity from one national reference
laboratory with the Research Institute of Tropical Medicine (RITM) to 23 licensed
testing labs across the country. Also, the government has been working with WHO and
the health agencies of several countries to learn and benchmark on how to properly
train the medical personnel and support staff. Further, the government had conducted
emergency hiring of additional healthcare professionals such as physicians, nurses,
medical technologists, and other support health personnel to augment its manpower
against the COVID-19 outbreak.

C. The role of the police and military in this COVID-19.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), along with the Philippine National
Police (PNP) are part of the whole of government approach in addressing the COVID-19
pandemic. As part of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF), the police and military have
the duty to enforce outlined measures diligently. These measures include the
enforcement of community quarantine, setting up of checkpoints borders to restrict the
movement of people to prevent the spread of the virus, assisting line departments of
government, delivering PPEs, food, and medical equipment, etc.

However, the role of the police and military is being questioned because of alleged
use of excessive and sometimes deadly force to enforce lockdowns and curfews. One
example of the most controversial issue was the incident where a Quezon City cop shot
dead a schizophrenic and traumatized former soldier, Winston Ragos, for allegedly
threatening the life of cops by attempting to pull something inside his sling bag. Cops
believed it was a gun, but witnesses and relatives said it was just a water bottle. Said
incident and several other abuses and punishments are highly demeaning. Despite the
above, the efforts of the police and military in containing the virus cannot be dispensed
with. The health issue might elevate to a law and order problem if they do not serve
their role as law enforcers. To address the said abuses, several adjustments were
implemented to allay the fears of the public, including the removal of weapons for
soldiers who will inspect the individuals while personnel who will act as support will
have small firearms for security reasons. I believe the military and the police as
frontliners are sacrificing their own safety in order to keep quarantine protocols.
Without their efforts, the virus would have escalated to a great extent. According to
WHO Western Pacific Regional Director Takesgu Kasai, “The Philippines, because of the
lockdown, is not experiencing so-called large-scale community outbreak.” In the
implementation of the said lockdown the hardwork goes to the police and the military.

D. Rule of law vis-à-vis respect of human rights and discrimination of

younger senior citizens.

Human rights organizations and labor groups have expressed outrage and
indignation because of violent arrests and abuses made by the police and military as
well as public officials in this pandemic. Some of the publicized abuses are as follows:
the police in San Isidro forced alleged curfew violators to sit under the sun and posted
the same in facebook; officials in Santa Cruz, Laguna locked five youths inside a dog
cage for the same violation; detainees in Pandacaqui are forced to sign bail papers with
sweat, while being threatened with paddling; and further reports emerged of police
beatings and shootings around the country. Also, there is the issue of discrimination
against older people such that workers, who are senior citizens, would be made “last
priority” by employers because of age restrictions imposed by the government as they
were supposed to be more vulnerable to contracting coronavirus and getting sick with
COVID-19.

It cannot be denied, that the above instances of violation of human rights and
discrimination took place. However, the violators are partly to blame, they are well
aware of the quarantine protocols but they choose to violate the same, hence, they
should be punished but on a humane way. As to the issue of senior citizens, the
protocol for them to stay at home is for their own safety, however, the government
should indeed find other measures to help them while they are not allowed to work
outside.

E. The Social Amelioration Program (SAP)

The SAP amounting to about 200 billion is a cash emergency subsidy program
(ESP) for 18 million filipino families whose lives are greatly affected by the ECQ. It's
mandated by the new law, the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, which was signed by the
President last March 25, 2020. The program is headed by the DSWD, in cooperation
with the DOLE, DTI, DA, DOF, DBM, and DILG. The first wave of the SAP cash
assistance has been distributed to qualified families but has raised several reactions and
questions. The talk has even evolved into a debate about who's considered middle class
or lower class. The funding for the SAP was pooled savings from discontinued
unreleased appropriations from cancelled programs/projects/activities (PPAs)
programmed under FY 2020 General Appropriations Act (GAA) as well as from DSWD’s
regular appropriations under the FY 2020 GAA and its continuing appropriations under
the FY 2019 GAA. As an employee of the DBM, I know that pooling the budget for the
said program is no joke but it was made possible because the President was firm in
mandating the DBM to find funds for the same. The SAP is considered the highest doll
out by the government so far, however, it is undeniably insufficient to cover all families,
hence, the strict requirements on who are eligible to the same.

F. The discipline of the so-called “poorest of the poor.”

Poor people more likely bear the effect of economic shocks brought by this
pandemic. Many jobs have no paid sick leaves. Irregular workers, including those who
are paid on a per output, takay, or pakyaw basis, are particularly vulnerable. Working
from home is not an option for all workers, as in the case of jeepney drivers and service
workers. These difficulties faced by the poorest of the poor made them find ways to
feed their mouth to the extent of violating quarantine protocols. The SAP as earlier
discussed and several other programs of the government are designed to address these
difficulties. Despite such efforts, the needs of poorest of the poor can’t seem to be met,
hence, they violate quarantine protocols to demand food and other assistance such as
the incident in San Roque, Quezon City where twenty-one people who were asking for
food but alleged to be protesting were arrested with bail set at 15,000 pesos each.
However, there are those who violate quarantine protocols just so they can work in
order to have enough food to feed their mouth. Their actions cannot be fully
condemned, their situations made them do such things, understandably they cannot
just die of hunger without even trying. The government cannot be blamed though, it
cannot address every need all at ones.

G. The issue on graft and corruption during this pandemic should also be
considered.

Complaints had reportedly emerged of low-income households not having received

emergency subsidies despite government promises. One particular incident was that of
a municipal official telling aid recipients of a town near the capital Manila that they
would only receive half of the aid, while the other half of the money would be
redistributed to those not listed for state help. Said official was arrested by the
authorities on May 2 for allegedly keeping that other half for himself. The DILG declared
that such incidents will especially not be tolerated during the COVID-19 crisis, and that
corrupt officials will be sanctioned. Following such incident, a countrywide investigation
into possible diversion of COVID-19 emergency subsidies was announced by President
Duterte and offered a reward to those blowing the whistle. The police appointed
additional investigators to gather evidence against corrupt local executives and a hotline
was also set up for the public to report those involved in the diversion of the emergency
cash aid. For more than three years, the Duterte administration have been battling
against corruption in the government, and in this trying situation the national
government would not tolerate the same when funds are badly needed.

H. The sacrifice of the so-called “frontliners”

 The COVID-19 pandemic grows by the day. As such, frontliners – medical workers,
policemen, and volunteers – are in the thick of the battle, still hopeful, whatever the
cost. The same goes for the non-medical frontliners, particularly those who continue
basic services to satisfy the essential needs of those affected by the ECQ - from grocery
storekeepers and pharmacists to bank employees and food delivery crew. Stepping out
of the comfortable presence of their families, they would tread and risk the danger of
getting the disease just to offer the services people need during this pandemic.

The government recognizes the sacrifices of the frontliners and responded to their
needs by providing them financial assistance as well as PPEs. The LGUs and the
community themselves helped by aiding those health workers who continue to work,
but who have no way of getting to and from hospitals and their homes by ferrying them
through Oplan Hatid, Lend-A-Bike, and Life Cycles. Further, they are being assisted
with crowd-sourced food, temporary housing, face masks, alcohol, sanitizers and other
dwindling resources that they require to be able to continue doing very important work
for the people.

I. The leadership of President Rodrigo Duterte

The leadership of President Duterte during this pandemic stern. No one was truly
prepared for this, hence, I commend the President for being firm. The amount of fear
brought out by his words and actions is reasonable during this pandemic in order to let
the people know that the virus is real, that how-fast it could have escalated to a greater
extent without the stringent implementation of quarantine protocols is real, that dying
because of the virus is real and that the whole Philippines could be crippled by the virus
is real. Without such reasonable fear, the people would disregard the law and do just
what they wanted without considering the consequences. Discipline is a must during
this pandemic, if said words and actions by the President will bring discipline out from
the people then so be it. The government is doing what it can, thus, continuous
backlashing and spreading hate speech do not really help the government. We need the
government to fight this virus and in turn we as Filipino people need to heed to the
government’s call for cooperation so no one may be left behind.

Overall, the Philippine Government was efficient and commendable. The

government is doing what it can from sourcing necessary funds to implementing strict
quarantine protocols. According to a survey conducted by “statistica” in the Philippines,
the majority of the respondents stated that the government had acted appropriately on
the coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak in the country as of February 2020. Only one
percent had the opinion that the government had not acted at all in response to the
outbreak.

We all look forward to the end of this pandemic. Everyone including the
government all have a lesson to learn. Until then we discipline ourselves and we pray.
References:

 Coronavirus. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/health-

topics/coronavirus#tab=tab_1

 COVID-19 Timeline. Retrieved from https://www.covid19.gov.ph/covid-19-

timeline/

 Priam Nepomuceno (April 22, 2020). Army ready to support LGUs, police in fight
vs. Covid-19. Retrieved from https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1100589

 Kristine Sabillo (April 23, 2020). DOH: 15,000 doctors, nurses, other healthcare
workers needed in COVID-19 battle in Philippines. Retrieved from
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/23/20/doh-15000-doctors-nurses-other-
healthcare-workers-needed-in-covid-19-battle-in-philippines

 JC Gotinga (April 23, 2020).Even in stricter lockdown, military says it will play
‘support role’. Retrieved from https://www.rappler.com/nation/258730-military-
support-role-stricter-lockdown-coronavirus

 Martin Sadongdong (March 15, 2020). AFP asserts role in helping to contain
COVID-19 crisis in PH. Retrieved from https://news.mb.com.ph/2020/03/15/afp-
asserts-role-in-helping-to-contain-covid-19-crisis-in-ph/

 Lynzy Billing (April 16, 2020). Duterte’s Response to the Coronavirus: ‘Shoot
Them Dead’. Retrieved from https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/04/16/duterte-
philippines-coronavirus-response-shoot-them-dead/

 Nick Aspinwall (April 30, 2020).Police Abuse, Prison Deaths Draw Concern as
Philippines Tightens Lockdown Measures. Retrieved from
https://thediplomat.com/2020/04/police-abuse-prison-deaths-draw-concern-as-
philippines-tightens-lockdown-measures/

 DBM releases P199.975-Billion for DSWD Social Amelioration Program.

https://www.dbm.gov.ph/index.php/secretary-s-corner/press-releases/list-of-
press-releases/1647-dbm-releases-p199-975-billion-for-dswd-social-
amelioration-program

 Angela Betsaida B. Laguipo (April 20, 2020). Poorer Regions in the Philippines
have more COVID-19 Cases. Retrieved from https://www.news-
medical.net/news/20200420/Poorer-regions-in-the-Philippines-have-more-
COVID-19-cases.aspx
  Sandrine Gagne-Acuolon (May 7, 2020). Philippines offers $600 for Information
on Corrupt Officials. Retrieved from https://www.occrp.org/en/daily/12292-
philippines-offers-600-for-information-on-corrupt-officials

 Frontliners leaving home and family to serve amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Retrieved from https://business.inquirer.net/295417/frontliners-leaving-home-
and-family-to-serve-amid-the-covid-19-pandemic

Issue: Whether or not the government was efficient and commendable for the effort to
contain the COVID-19 pandemic.

Subheads:
1. Prevention of the entry of the virus which originated from Wuhan, China
2. Medical facilities and supplies
3. Availability and training of medical personnel and support staff
4. Role of the police and military
5. The rule of law vis-à-vis respect of human rights and discrimination of
younger senior citizens
6. Social amelioration program
7. Discipline of the so-called “poorest of the poor”
8. Graft and corruption
9. The sacrifice of the so-called “frontliners”
10. Leadership of President Rodrigo Duterte