COVID-19 Pandemic: Is PH’s response adequate?

By: Shiela Saang

The onslaught of COVID-19 spurred a new chapter of another horrific history of
pandemic that humanity will ever witnessed. It had immensely shifted the world from its normal
operations, killed millions of lives and made massive impact to the global economy, not
mentioning the other adverse effects it had brought to the different aspects of the society.
Associated by its fatally spreading nature, everyone from all sorts of life is a potential victim to
it, young and old, rich and poor alike. So, who would ever wonder that the world once aiming to
be together now had to be physically apart in order to survive?
The arrival of COVID-19 which was announced as pandemic on March 11, 2020 by
World Health Organization (WHO) had started a global panic, as evident from the
implementation of lockdowns and quarantines of national governments from all around the
world. Economic activities were put into halt, and it was as if we were back to the times when
basic survival is the only priority we had.
Philippines, like any other countries had also imposed its implementing protocols to
contain the spread of the virus as well as minimize its further negative effects to the country as a
whole. However, from WHO’s recent data, Philippines was ranked third on the list of 28
countries in the Western Pacific with the highest rates of COVID-19 infections. Considering the
massive implementation of strict community quarantines, skeletal workforces and even
checkpoints all over the country that it was even regarded by researchers particularly the Sage
Journals (2021), as one of the countries who have the longest and strictest lockdowns in the
world, have you ever wondered why is it that Philippine’s COVID-19 cases are still alarmingly
increasing every single minute? Does it suggest that the government’s response is not effective
and accurate enough to combat the adverse effects of the pandemic?
According to DOH, the Philippines had already recorded around 2.22 million cases in the
country with the total number of death tolls reaching to 35,145 as of September 12, 2021.
Massive deficiency of hospitals catering COVID-19 patients had already reached an alarming
number and there are only few medical healthcare workers available compared to the high
volume of patients admitted every day. And even the medical sector is already exhausted to this
seemingly unending battle specially with the fact that they are risking their lives to a job they
weren’t even properly compensated for.
If we could assess the situation that the country is experiencing right now, it seems like
the government is only focusing on the “securitization” of its constituents that it heavily relies
only to the exercise of law enforcement of the military and police where in fact it had to be
focusing on strengthening the foundation of the medical and frontline services to prevent it from
collapsing. The government is too focused in ensuring that each individual is implementing its
protocols and is very adamant in imposing consequences to its violations. One of which is its
policy of face shield wearing where Philippines was seen as the only country to implement such
protocol. With the increasing number of cases in the country, it’s as if this policy is never a help
to curve the increasing rate of infections. Rather, it was adding to the expenses of each Filipino
household as people have to repeatedly buy new as it is only good worn for one or two times.
Even according to WHO, face shields can only contribute to the pollution as the materials are
just thrown everywhere. Even big countries such as United Kingdom, South Korea and even
China which is where the virus originated had lifted their face shield policies.
Infections are even increasing because even there are many reported cases that patients
were charged with COVID-19 despite their deaths are far from COVID-19 inflictions. It was
even reported that a person who died from a car accident was charged as COVID-19 positive.
There is no doubt why every day, the country’s cases are racing higher every minute. If we try to
analyze this, you will see that there is an ongoing corruption behind all of these, specially that
each hospital is subject to receive a huge amount of money for every COVID-19 charged
patients, especially dead ones. The country is already losing a lot of resources specially after the
series of financial aid distributions to displaced workers and those who lost their income prior to
the start of lockdowns. If this will go on even before the economy of the country becomes stable,
it will be most likely that we will fall into more debts and depleting of our resources.
This isn’t talking about underappreciating the government’s efforts against COVID-19
but this is to criticize the realignment of the government’s priorities in dealing with the prevalent
issues surrounding its response to the pandemic. We are all equally responsible to what future
our country is heading on, especially with these uncertain times. Of course it is the job of the
government to effectively lead the country, but we, citizens are also held liable to what we
contribute for the community as citizens. By following the health and safety protocols of
COVID-19 and participating in the vaccination activities of the country, we are being responsible
citizens who are helping our country adjust to the new normal. Though we may be physically
forced to be apart from each other, we should still unite as one for humanity.