The Effects of Covid-19 Pandemic to the Philippines

The Philippines is one of the countries in Asia that have affordable goods, low rate of unemployed people and great economy in the past half year of 2019. It is proven in the Philippine Economic Growth that it got 6.7%, much higher in the past third quarter according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.However, the Philippines is not exempted to the calamities crossing to it. One of this is the global spreading of pandemic due to Covid-19 resulting for making the national economy decline.

The National Government do not have a choice but to set an order for limiting the move of the people and to have a temporarily close operations of some establishments including schools. The pandemic has had profound effects not only on the Philippine economy but also on the lives of the people.

•Economy and Tourism

The National Economy of the Philippines has decline of 0.2 % in the first three months of year making it the greatest recession in the past 21 years. The government officials admitted the result of pandemic was worst in the month of April to June. The most affected are the seven million people who lost their jobs due to the implementation of Enhance Community Quarantine or ECQ.

The Covid-19 outbreak has also has a big impact on the tourism industry .According to Department of Tourism Under Secretary, Benito Benzon, Jr, due to the pandemic, the tourism sector dropped by minus thirty-five percent to the country's economy in the first three months of 2020.

However, the Chief Economists of Union, Mr. Carlo Asuncion stated that the Philippine Economy will recover in the year 2021 but it will depend on the vaccine as an antidote for the Covtd-19 virus. The government is encouraging the people to get used to live In so-called "New Normal" while there is not yet vaccine.

•Health

The number of people infected in the Philippines with the Covid-19 virus continues to rise. The Covid-19 virus has bought some effects not just to physical health but to mental health as well. During this time of pandemic, there's a battle of stress, navigating anxiety and depression during the government order called Enhance Community Quarantine or ECQ wherein there is a nationwide lockdown of every cities, towns, and barangays to prevent of being infected

According to the secretary of the department of health, Francisco Duque HI, individual responsibility is very important in order to avoid getting contact with the virus such as proper hygiene and social distancing. In the midst of pandemic, while there is not yet vaccine, it is important calm ourselves and do our responsibility while hoping for a cure.

•Education

There's also a great effect of the Covid-19 pandemic to the basic education of the Philippines. According to the Chairman of the Senate Committee of Basic Education, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian that there are twenty-eight million of the students that are being affected because of the early closing of the schools from primary to tertiary level in the Philippines due the covid pandemic. The students must be prepared in the "New Normal" system of education.

The Department of Education confirmed Classes will continue to open in public schools on August 24, 2020.Secretary Leonor Briones stated that the department prepares a Self-Learning Modules together with,the other alternative delivery modalities such as modular, television-based, radio-based instruction, blended and the online classes. This will ensure that the students will get a quality education in the midst of pandemic.

•Positive Effects

The widespread of pandemics in the country and around the world still have positive effects. Due to the massive lockdown that resulted in the unemployment of millions of people, every

member of the family had time to be with each other. There's a realization and appreciation of the hardships and fatigue of the front liners for sacrificing their lives for the sake of the welfare and safety of the people. Traces of the destruction of the world then as a result of man-made things are gradually healing and returning to vitality due to the current lockdown. Mostly, we realized that health is very important than anything else.

Conclusion

"Sunrise is a great reminder that no matter how dark it gets, sun will rise." Even if the world is facing a severe crisis, the trust, love, and unity of the people are more important that one day, the country will also recover from this severe pandemic.