‘…workers will continue to throw caution to the wind, walk long distances without public transportation, say a prayer that they will be spared of illness — because the family’s survival depends on it.’
THE administration has been trying to assuage the fears of people by reiterating that the recent enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) will not be extended (thus far). According to the National Economic Development Agency, the Philippine economy could potentially lose P150 billion every week that NCR and its environs remain under ECQ. That’s a staggering figure for most of us ordinary folks to even imagine, and more concerning when you think about the number of families who survive on daily wages.
But, as always, the country and its citizens are caught between a rock and a hard place.
We all want this virus to go away — but the truth of the matter is, most Filipinos cannot afford to stay home. A year-and-a-half into the COVID-19 pandemic, this should already be crystal clear to our government; that any lockdown should be supported by a reasonable amount of assistance given. Otherwise, people will just be left to brave the elements on their own, as the need to provide for their families is a much urgent concern. We see this every day — workers will continue to throw caution to the wind, walk long distances without public transportation, say a prayer that they will be spared of illness — because the family’s survival depends on it. Understand what ordinary Filipinos are saying: we have no choice.
While experts recognize that lockdowns can help slow the spread of the virus, it’s not the silver bullet that is needed to alleviate the situation we are in. In fact, there seems to be no silver bullet to end this pandemic, and it is foolhardy to think that one exists. Instead, the trio of test, trace, and vaccinate (as very nicely explained in the Singapore government’s information campaign for its own citizens and residents) seems to be working for other countries. The way I understand it, lockdowns are intended to buy us time to increase our health care facilities, testing capacity, vaccination rates. A year-and-a-half later, can we confidently say that we have done all of those?
As someone said in frustration, August 2021 feels exactly like March 2020, when we first dealt with ECQ. Another friend in the medical profession described it as “running in place,” where nothing seems to improve policy-wise after every surge. Despite what mouthpieces say about manageable hospital capacity, the situation on the ground belies every assurance that our hospitals can still take in patients. One doctor shared on social media that their patients are waiting out on the street to be admitted — in cars, ambulances, or out on the street in makeshift beds. You’ve only to go to the hospital accounts on social media to see the notices — full. Nearing capacity. Over capacity. Government’s figures do not stand a chance against these powerful images and indications of reality.
As always, government has to strike a balance between two contending forces — allowing a more lenient quarantine status to allow the economy to recover, even in the face of these rising COVID numbers, and with the continuing threat of the Delta (and just recently, the Lambda) variant. It’s a very delicate balance, with thousands of lives at stake. What will be their next move?
