On March 15, President Rodrigo Duterte implemented the “community quarantine” or “lockdown” in National Capital Region (NCR) that he announced on March 12. The implementers of this order advised that people should “stay at home” within one month (until April 14 for now), but of course with exemptions. Within this duration, local government units are expected to impose “curfew hours” from 8pm to 5am as per the recommendation of the Metro Manila Council. The Philippine National Police (PNP) regional director even declared that violators will be arrested.
“Social distancing”, “no mass meeting” and “proper hygiene” must be done. The local government units, military and police are being mobilized to monitor and implement these policies.
The idea of “lockdown” is to contain COVID-19 to spread out outside NCR, but it has already reached as far as Cagayan de Oro City down south. Only the leaders and agents of the Duterte administation really knew about the “undeclared reasons” of declaring an NCR “lockdown.” The people are urged to believe that the “lockdown” is the right approach to COVID-19. The public are commanded to obey.
Some legitimate concerns come from citizens who warn against spreading fear or panic further recommends the use of “community quarantine” instead of “lockdown.” While the government has not offered us any other wide-ranging solutions other than containment within a region of 15 million people at the time of 52 confirmed cases and only 2,000 tests done in a month, for prudence, fear and panic, some people justify obeying the only solution presented especially if they can live with that solution. For others this meant loss of livelihood or jobs, salaries or income. And to the poor, it ultimately means hunger.
However, the simple dictionary definition of “lockdown” is exactly what is implemented in the NCR. Merriam-Webster defines the word as “an emergency measure or condition in which people are temporarily prevented from entering or leaving a restricted area or building (such as a school) during a threat of danger.” We are on lockdown in NCR. But the Duterte administration preferred the term of “community quarantine” to allay fears of martial law or state of emergency that he has oft-declared he would impose for reasons he found sufficient. He did impose Martial Law in Mindanao for more than two years and lifted it only after the military men in his Cabinet pushed for the authoritarian and fascistic anti-terrorism bill.
Trolls and Duterte Diehard Supporters are on full operations and working overtime to make distinctions between the two terms and attacking posts that air concerns or protests against the lockdown.
Meanwhile, those who understood that this is actually a lockdown also understood and called for medical solutions and not a military approach to COVID-19 problem. Especially that there are still no other solutions being offered. This does not mean medical personnel on the checkpoints and definitely not switching them with military in the hospitals.
A medical approach is mass testing and offering quarantine and free treatment to the people if they are infected, as well as financial aid, food relief and other immediate needs must be provided to the people.
The people had no choice but to obey. Church leaders as good citizens had issued advisories to their flocks to follow the government’s order and some of them canceled their religious activities including the celebration of the Holy Eucharist.
As people wait for the developments of the NCR situation, critical minds may think that:
- The COVID-19 pandemic has again exposed the Philippines’ miserable status to its own people and to the world. The government is helpless in “handling” the infectious disease.
At first, the government resorted to “quarantine” for 14 days of those who are suspected of being infected persons. They are classified as “persons under investigations” or PUIs. But this approach did not prevent COVID-19 to infect people who are exposed to other people who are infected of the disease.
Then, the next approach is to “lockdown” NCR. The effect of the rumors (when it was not yet announced) and the announcement was mass exodus and panic buying. Exceptions, limitations and under preparations have been noted on the first two days of the implementation if the lockdown, spreading fear that the virus is still being spread. These approaches confirmed that the Duterte regime cannot solve a health problem with medical solution.
On March 16, the first work day of the implementation of the COVID-19 found the authorities hard-pressed to implement the ‘social distancing.’ Queues in trains have long been long and cramped. Jeepneys and buses are cramped as well given the enduring mass transportation problem in the country. Buses, jeeps and trains are full despite no classes, skeletal workforce in government, cancellation of work in some or flexible work arrangements in the private sector. We are reminded today of the lack of mass transport system in the country.
There were media reports of some checkpoints missing at 9am. Or military and police personnel lamenting the lack of medical personnel in the checkpoints that they had to do the thermal or non-contact body temperature check—but we thought they were there to do just that. Because if they were to just check IDs and proof of employment, this would look more like a restriction of movement than a quarantine to keep the virus from spreading.
After all, around three million working in Metro Manila reside outside the region and would be allowed in and out on as much as a daily basis. This is because the NCR has the highest minimum wage in the country but the cost of living is also the highest. NCR is still thought as ‘greener pastures’ due to the regionalization of wage and the minimum wage still falls below all cost of living expenses computations whether by the government National Economic Development Authority or the independent thinktank Ibon Foundation. Also due to the high concentration of population and commerce, people can make a living here by vending or offering services. But people would live outside due to high lease or property costs and higher cost of goods.
There were long lines at the borders that took long because there have really been traffic due to small roads and lack of urban development planning. The lines took longer due to the shortage of thermal scanners. Traffic has also been very heavy prior to this implementation.
- COVID-19 has confirmed that the Philippine health program is lacking or it is not a priority program of the government.
We are again reminded of the lack of public hospitals and the lack of doctors and health workers in proportion to the population. Those who exited Metro Manila before the ‘lockdown’ took effect are being treated as Persons Under Monitoring (PUM) to the provinces they went to. And while the sole testing center in the country has been able to do a maximum of 300 tests and some hospitals in NCR can perform detection and treatment, hospitals in the provinces would have little capacities to do this unless the government deploys personnel, equipment, training all over the country—something that has not been done before there was this threatening situation.
The Philippine health program is dependent on foreign countries and multi-national corporations. The country needs more funds to acquire needed medicines, technologies and expertise to become a prepared state on whatever health crisis would challenge the people. Testing kits for infectious diseases are imported or even locally-made testing kits have to be transported to other country (Australia) to be examined of its usefulness and affectivity. The government’s own University of the Philippines developed cheaper testing kits with faster results and working on their own for its validation—this must be funded and supported by the government and we have yet to hear them say this.
- COVID-19 affirmed that this country should be transformed.
The Philippines must have a people-oriented health program. A people-oriented health program is a community-based program. A community-based health care is organizing and mobilizing people to prepare on any epidemic or pandemic wrought about by infection diseases. The community health workers must be supported, developed and empowered. Research in health and other scientific studies and development must be upgraded and prioritized.
The economy must be centered on the well-being of the people. To gain more income for the country must mean more services and better quality of lives for the people. Those who can engage and have engaged in panic buying and mass exodus or self-quarantine—as a sort of physical and psychological way to deal with the COVID-19 problem on their own terms and efforts—were those who have the means. The middle class and the poor are left to fend for their own in times of calamities.
Government must drop the militaristic approach and implement comprehensive health solutions now. Government must also address the socioeconomic impacts of the COVID-19 spread that seemed to have only been aggravated at a quicker rate by the lockdown.
We must unite to work for solutions that work best. And it is our duty as good citizens and as Christians to push and work for the good of the people. To push these to the government and to hold them to account. Constant prayer and proper hygiene will also become conscious reminders and efforts.
After all, God is everywhere. He is present in all places and at all times. COVID-19, as deadly and dreaded infectious disease, is not. COVID-19 should not devastate the people of this country. COVID-19 should become an instrument of the transformation of this nation. Powerless, oppress and marginalized people must unite against COVID-19 and work also to treat or do away with a militarist and fascist regime.
