Time for Take-backs: On PH COVID-19 Response

by Maria Carmela Lanip (Hachimoji)

In this ongoing battle against COVID-19, the competence of every nation is put to the test. The pandemic has exposed which countries were successful and those who have clearly failed in response to the global health crisis—regardless of their funds, technology, repressive power, or capabilities in general. As Ian Bremmer (foreign affairs columnist, TIME) narrowed down the best global responses on the COVID-19 pandemic, he found out that those who were rich, technologically-advanced, powerful, or generally capable are not automatically exempted from response failure. Any present advantages or new efforts made in handling the pandemic are useless without one critical requirement: good leadership.

PH reaches millionth COVID-19 case after a year

It has been over a year since the first case of COVID-19 was recorded and the first day of quarantine was implemented in the country. Yet, we are still struggling in controlling the recent surge of COVID-19 cases. As of writing, 1,028,738 total reported cases, 69,354 active cases, and 17,145 deaths were tallied by DOH (Department of Health). Despite misfortunately reaching our millionth tally, what’s alarming is that this already outrageous number is just the tip of the iceberg. With these numbers, the National Capital Region (NCR) and its adjacent provinces (Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal) are still currently under a Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ). 

Now that vaccines have joined the picture, light seems to be gradually emerging into our dark tunnel. Even so, measures are still far from being handled smoothly. Delayed travel bans, repetitive militarized lockdowns, disorganized contact tracing, inefficient quarantine and isolation measures, inadequate mass testing, and late procurement and inoculation of vaccines are few of the main reasons for the Duterte administration's failed COVID-19 response. Undoubtedly, the Duterte administration’s relentless incompetence and lack of urgency is far more frightening than the statistics. If we fail to address and assert the government for their lapses, the virus might not be the only thing that will wipe the Filipinos out. For us to prevent this from happening anytime soon, we must understand the series of events which have led to the country’s failed COVID-19 response.

Reluctance on travel bans

Amidst global panic on the first coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan, China; the government, especially President Duterte and DOH secretary Francisco Duque, remained reluctant on banning inbound travel against our Chinese “friends.” With a matter of urgency, government officials and the general public persistently called for a wider travel ban. It was only until January 31, 2020 when the president decided to ban the whole province of Hubei (where Wuhan is located). A day prior to that, a 38 year-old resident of Wuhan was confirmed and announced as the first COVID-19 case in the country. After more than a month from the first outbreak and now a few days after the first reported case, on February 2, 2020, a complete travel ban from the entire mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau was finally permitted by the president. With an emerging global health crisis at hand, decisions on travel restrictions into and out of the country is one of the first crucial steps in containing pandemic-causing viruses. Due to the government's lack of urgency coupled with fear of denting diplomatic relations with China, we have failed to implement a swift response to control the spread of the virus—especially for a country whose healthcare system is not fully prepared for a pandemic. 

Repetitive lockdowns

Unfortunately dubbed as the country with a surging number of COVID-19 cases despite having the world’s longest lockdown, the government continues to rely on strict repetitive community quarantines as its main response. Instead of further strengthening health protocols, the country has been under a war-like state as the situation mirrors the Duterte regime’s infamous “War on Drugs'' campaign. President Duterte insists that we are at war with “an unseen enemy” and has pinned his hopes on former army generals, the military, and the police (instead of medical experts) to lead the National Task Force against COVID-19 (NTF-COVID19) in making sure that the public strictly follows health protocols and quarantine guidelines. 

Inefficient health protocols 

Due to limited investment in resources such as hospitals, laboratory facilities, equipment, and manpower as a result of billions cut by the government in the budget allotted for the health sector (around 23% less than 2020’s budget), our already weakened healthcare system is further pushed to its limits. With a delayed and disorganized chain of command among government and health agencies, contract tracing was found to be our weakest link. On mass testing, the lack of testing kits (despite having a locally made and cheaper one) and the limited availability of accredited laboratory facilities have rendered it nonexistent during earlier responses. DOH has also rejected many calls for mass testing as it is said to be “not needed” during those times.

Consequently, problems in tracing and testing have compromised the surveillance system—a crucial platform where the general public gets updates from and where experts track and assess our state. In the isolation and treatment of patients, the country has been grappling with inadequate facilities as well as equipment. With the lack of oxygen tanks, ventilators, and beds, Filipino families and health workers alike have been struggling due to overcapacity of quarantine areas and hospitals. President Duterte affirmed that waiting for vaccines is our only hope left. Even so, delays in the procurement and inoculation of vaccines have been established. Mainly relying on our friend China’s Sinovac donations, we have failed to immediately reserve other vaccine brands such as Pfizer when DOH secretary Francisco Duque was allegedly unable to submit some documents and “dropped the ball” earlier in 2020. 

In this pandemic, Filipinos were robbed

Filipinos have been robbed of the universal health care system and even the bare minimum leadership that we deserve. The country is failing and it will take a great while before we achieve our true “new normal”. Over time, this unappealing picture will continue to build dismay and hardships among lawmakers, the academe, and especially the frontliners and general masses unless the government has fully acknowledged and fixed their missteps.

As an organization that values the study of Genetics and even the general sciences while fervently aiming to contribute to the advancement of the nation, GeneSoc believes in the power of a well-informed person’s critical voice in asserting the competent response we deserve from the administration during this pandemic. Through this, will we take back the quality of life the current administration has robbed from us.