Protecting lives, livelihood in COVID-19 time
As soon as the country recorded its first local transmission of COVID-19, the government’s first stance was to protect lives first. The economy became a second priority.
It was a tough choice for President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, but it was a choice that had to be made in order to shield a majority of the people against infection from the dreaded virus, and to give time for our health system to strengthen the country’s critical care capacity.
Once critical care capacity was deemed enough and the case doubling time of the disease slowed down, our government leaders saw it fit to recommend to the President the reopening of some of the critical and essential parts of the economy.
And so, gradually, the government has allowed the reopening of economic sectors and industries, this time with the goal to protect the public’s health, while protecting jobs and providing livelihood for the many who have been rendered unable to actively participate in trade and commerce or struggled to put food on the table for their families.
The reopening of the economy is a gradual process because President Duterte himself said the Philippine economy cannot be fully opened because that would surely cause a spike in COVID-19 cases, which would put the country in even much deeper trouble.
Recently, however, COVID-19 cases are on the rise again, partly because of the eased restrictions to revive the economy. With more people on the go — going to and from work, accessing basic and essential services, or simply enjoying a morning jog or an afternoon walk — COVID-19 cases are likely bound to increase significantly.
So, what is the government to do? What is the President supposed to do? Again, it will have to be a conscious act to balance the need to protect lives and at the same time to protect jobs and livelihood.
To help the public understand the tough decisions that the government makes in terms of reopening the economy and protecting lives, I have invited in four separate occasions some of the country’s economic managers in my media briefings in Malacañang. Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez, Finance Undersecretary Tony Lambino, National Economic and Development Authority Acting
Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua, and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno have all talked about economic issues vis-a-vis public health concerns in my briefings.
Accordingly, these same people and the other economic managers of the country all agree that health and livelihood should not be a binary decision. We need to protect lives in ways that will not stop people from having a livelihood.
To do that, various government agencies have put in place programs to assist the public in the face of the COVID-19 crisis. The Social Security System has a Calamity Assistance Program (up to P20,000 loan for members) and an Unemployment Benefits Program; the Government Service Insurance System has a P30,000 computer loan and up to P100,000 educational loan program; and Land Bank of the Philippines has the ACADEME lending program for private educational institutions.
The Philippine Guarantee Corporation has a P120 billion credit guarantee program for private banks; the Department of Trade and Industry and Small Business Corporation has a P1 billion COVID-19 Assistance to Restart Enterprises Loan Program; TESDA offers online trainings; the Department of Tourism has its Online Learning Series Workshops as part of its retooling program for the tourism industry; and farmers and fisherfolk are given a cash subsidy of P5,000. And then there’s the “Build, Build, Build” Program, which is a big part of the country’s economic recovery program.
With these programs and others more in place to help various sectors of the population to mitigate the impact of COVID-19, the government appeals to our public to do your share in helping your government in the fight against COVID-19.
As the President’s spokesman, I urge everyone to heed the call to stay at home if there’s no urgent reason for you to be out, continue practicing the minimum public health standards: frequent washing of hands, wearing of mask in public places, and social or physical distancing of at least one to two meters.
I will not tire of emphasizing that doing this together is the only way to win against the virus and the fastest way to moving forward to a new normal. Let us heal as one and win as one against COVID-19. Together we can do it!
“I will not tire of emphasizing that doing this together is the only way to win against the virus and the fastest way to moving forward to a new normal.
“President Duterte himself said the Philippine economy cannot be fully opened because that would surely cause a spike in COVID-19 cases, which would put the country in even much deeper trouble.