Sangkula, Alyzza

What action(s) did the government do?

In March 2020, the government implemented The Bayanihan to Heal as One Act
whereas formally known as Republic Act No. 11469. It’s a law enacted in the Philippines which
officially declares the existing threat of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and imposing a
national emergency action. The act also grants President Duterte greater power for tackling the
fight against COVID-19 pandemic. These temporary emergency measures will be authorized to
the President in response to the global crisis, whereas the President said himself he needed
such powers in order to reallocate the funds.

The first case of death outside China happened within the Philippines, which was listed
as the second Coronavirus patient in the national record. President Duterte assured that
“Everything is well” to reject the call for banning travel from China. The President wasn’t keen
on temporarily banning the Chinese travellers amid the Coronavirus scare; eventually, he
imposed and expanded the travel ban to cover any individual from Hong Kong, China, and
Macau except Filipinos and Visa holders.

The World Health Organization confirmed the mystery virus, COVID-19, on January 9,
2020. And as of March 15, it took 16 days after the first recorded case of COVID-19 in the
Philippines to make the government place Metro Manila under community quarantine; the
curfew as well has been imposed to certain cities and towns.
The Section 3 of the Republic Act 11469 depicts the government’s response regarding
the provision of assistance and essential needs to households and individuals under the strict
enforcement of Community Quarantine.

Local Government Units (LGUs) have immediately taken action to send out basic
necessities and relief goods to the families and individuals in their areas such as canned goods,
rice, gallons of water, and etc. Although, some were delayed for making attempts to campaign
by imprinting a politician’s face or name to disguise it as help provided by that politician alone.
Some were videotaping scripted help from the officials and then dismissing the essence of truly
helping a Filipino.
In accordance with the Section 6(a) of the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, any LGU who
disobeys guidelines regarding the quarantine and national government policies shall be
penalized under the law.
Several more acts are prohibited under the RA 11469, such as: Section 6(c) hoarding of
supplies, manipulation of prices, making profit out of the essential goods.

Amid the worsening situation of COVID-19 in the Philippines, the government has put
the light on the ABS-CBN shut down and other issues unrelated to the pandemic rather than
focusing on public health.

The ongoing issue of Philippine National Police (PNP) Major General, Debold Sinas,

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 throwing a birthday party under a lockdown, which they violated several quarantine protocols,
namely: liquor ban (as seen from the images posted), social distancing, not wearing of masks
and safety gears. This mañanita caused a public uproar but everyone caught in the act continues to
have their jobs as police officers and unpunished.
The penalty for the prohibited acts under the Republic Act 11469, The Bayanihan to Heal
as One Act, continues to apply as well, but mostly for the citizens.

After weeks of under lockdown and community quarantine, a number of quarantine

violators have been killed, arrested, and threatened; contrary to the purpose of the RA 1169,
which is to protect the public. Coronavirus cases continue to arise and the curve has never been
flattened. Even though the University of the Philippines (UP) has discovered a functional,
locally-developed and low-cost test kits for the virus. Only several areas have conducted rapid
mass testing yet. And the people of the Philippines still continue to call for mass testing.

What is the expected impact of these actions?

The act of denial, rejection and delayed action resulted in an immediate coronavirus
outbreak to the Philippines starting from belittling the pandemic. The government wasn’t
focused on the possible outcome of the virus as Salvador Panelo, the Presidential
Spokesperson, has said that the Filipinos should only just ‘strengthen their immune system.’
President Duterte officially proclaimed a public health emergency due to coronavirus.
The travel ban was delayed to be imposed due to the government’s sentiments about hurting
China’s feelings and saying that it’s a no-need. Causing more infected people to enter the
country day by day.

The government was strict on the lockdown and community quarantine, but they have
put emphasis on keeping the people inside without thinking of their welfare. Some families have
run out of food, money and resources; but, they have not received any package of basic
necessities yet. Causing them to go outside to call for help.
The arrests and the odd punishments for the violators are instilling fear to the public,
which others might find as a reason to just stay at home. Unfortunately, other penalizations are
considered to be inhumane and just makes a situation worse, whereas the violator will be
contained among several prisoners; breaking the social distancing protocol and could possibly
cause an outbreak within the cell.

If the government continues to divert their attention to unrelated subjects to the

pandemic, this will cause an insane number of coronavirus cases and deaths. The mass testing
highly contributes to fighting the COVID-19, yet the government lacks the action to do it rapidly
in places. Making an individual aware of their health status can save more lives as well as
contain the virus.
The more the government rejects the call of the masses, the more it sets the Philippines
to a critical state.

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 https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2020/4/8/COVID-19-response-money-trail.html

https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/iq/250842-timeline-novel-coronavirus-epidemic

https://platonmartinez.com/articles/what-are-the-acts-penalized-under-r-a-no-11469-or-the-
bayanihan-to-heal-as-one-act-or-bayanihan-law

https://www.rappler.com/business/255047-philhealth-commits-funds-hospitals-vs-coronavirus

https://www.plm.edu.ph/news/special-reports/frequently-asked-questions-faqs-bayanihan-to-
heal-as-one-act-r-a-11469

https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/downloads/2020/03mar/20200324-RA-11469-RRD.pdf
https://www.rappler.com/nation/258708-quezon-city-cop-faces-criminal-probe-killing-mentally-
challenged-coronavirus-lockdown-violator

https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2020/3/8/Philippines-public-health-emergency.html?
fbclid=IwAR00tIW4i97pMMPI-enPjEI9q0GGZxRNy4NicKnO8-d3Wz8NQ49-7radr9U

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