Rachel Del Rosario ABS 1-3

Instruction: Apply Blumer’s ideas on the Stages of a Social Problem to the experience of the
Philippines with the COVID-19 pandemic. Research online about the timeline of COVID-19-related
responses and news in the Philippines and see how each stage plays out. Be mindful also of the
important points to consider in the last slide, and see how those premises apply in the Philippine
setting.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the Philippines, a country of over 100
million people. The outbreak of the virus in the Philippines began in mid-January 2020, with the first
confirmed case of the virus being reported on January 30th. Since then, the Philippines has
experienced a series of social and political responses to the virus, which can be seen as a series of
stages that follow Blumer's ideas on the Stages of a Social Problem.

The first stage, Social Recognition, can be seen in the Philippines' response to the virus. Immediately
after the first case was reported, the government began to take action to prevent the spread of the
virus. A series of travel restrictions were put in place, such as the suspension of travel to and from
China, and the closure of international airports in the Philippines. At the same time, the government
began to implement social distancing measures, such as the closure of schools and the prohibition of
large gatherings. This showed that the government and the public were aware of the potential dangers
of the virus and were taking action to protect the public.

The second stage, Social Legitimation, can be seen in the government's response to the pandemic. The
government declared a state of public health emergency in March 2020 and implemented a nationwide
lockdown, which was later extended until May 15th. This was a clear sign that the government was
taking the threat of the virus seriously and had the public's best interests in mind. This was further
strengthened by the government's decision to distribute free face masks and other protective
equipment to the public, as well as provide financial assistance to those affected by the pandemic.
This stage has been marked by the widespread acceptance of the government’s measures to address
the pandemic and the increasing public support for these measures. This is evidenced by the majority
of Filipinos supporting the lockdown and the government’s efforts to contain the spread of the virus.

However, not all groups in society may recognize that the problem is indeed a problem. Since society
is composed of different groups with different interests, some groups might ignore or even actively
oppose the government’s measures. This can be seen in the criticism by some groups of the
government’s handling of the pandemic and its decision to impose a lockdown, particularly from
business owners and other groups who have been adversely affected by the lockdown. Also, this will
be seen when vaccines are already being given to people. According to CNN Philippines, 94% of
Filipinos worry about catching COVID-19 but 61% do not want the vaccine either because the
vaccine might not be effective, it is not needed, it might not be free

The third stage, Mobilization for Action, can be seen in the various efforts of the government and the
public to respond to the pandemic. The government launched a massive testing program, which was
later expanded to include rapid testing. At the same time, the government also implemented a series of
contact tracing programs to identify those who had been in contact with the virus. The public also
played an active role in the response, with many individuals and organizations donating money,
supplies, and time to help those affected by the pandemic.

The fourth stage, Development and Implementation of a Plan of Action, can be seen in the
government's response to the pandemic. The government launched a series of programs and initiatives
to help those affected by the pandemic, such as cash assistance, food subsidies, and free medical
services. The government also implemented a series of public health measures, such as contact tracing
and quarantine procedures, to help contain the spread of the virus.
The fifth and final stage, Problem Resolved, is still in the process of being reached in the Philippines.
The government is still implementing various measures to contain the spread of the virus and to help
those affected by the pandemic. It is important to note that not all groups in society may recognize the
problem as a problem. Some may even actively ignore it or take a more laissez-faire approach. This is
why it is important for the government to continue its efforts to ensure that everyone is aware of the
dangers of the virus and is taking the necessary steps to protect themselves and their communities.

Overall, applying Blumer’s ideas on the Stages of a Social Problem to the experience of the
Philippines with the COVID-19 pandemic reveals the different stages it has gone through, as well as
the different responses of various groups in society. While the majority of Filipinos have supported
the government’s measures to address the pandemic, there are still some groups who are opposed to
these measures. The search for solutions and the implementation of these solutions is still ongoing,
and it remains to be seen how the pandemic will ultimately be addressed.

Reference:

https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2021/3/26/Pulse-Asia-survey-COVID-19-vaccine.html
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7154063/
https://verfassungsblog.de/the-philippines-a-year-under-lockdown/