“No decent Filipino wants the government to fail in this battle,”

sharing strong points from this VICE article packed with sources. (pls see article for sources)

If any1 can translate it to tagalog i’d appreciate it so everyone can read it!

https://www.vice.com/en_asia/article/4agey3/philippines-coronavirus-response-government-problematic?utm_campaign=sharebutton

A thread:

The instructions were clear: stay indoors and self-isolate.
But in late March, a Philippine senator broke quarantine protocol when he stepped inside a busy private hospital in the heart of Manila to accompany his pregnant wife. He was infected with the novel coronavirus.

days leading up to the hospital visit, he was already experiencing symptoms typical of Covid19: fever, diarrhoea, & sore throat. He was tested and told to self-isolate. The test results confirmed that he had COVID-19, and that he had endangered the lives of doctors and patients.

After a handful of lawmakers and cabinet officials discovered that they were potentially in contact with someone who had COVID-19, most senators were tested right away, despite not showing any symptoms and amid a shortage of test kits in the country.

This, even though the Department of Health requires that a person must show symptoms of the disease to qualify for a test. Only two senators listened to doctors’ advice and refused tests, opting to self-quarantine for 14 days instead.

As is, the Philippines has responded too slow to COVID-19. Lulled into a false sense of safety over low numbers through much of February, the Philippines remained unprepared for the pandemic.

A hold up in test results means hospitals can’t free up isolation units, which leads to an overflow of patients in the emergency room. This is already happening in hospitals that were caught off-guard by the uptick in admissions.

Pimentel’s actions, as well as VIP testing of politicians, are a stark contrast from other stories in of those not as fortunate.

It wasn’t until five weeks after the country’s first confirmed case when Duterte declared a public health emergency.

a week later, the government still has no comprehensive plan to address the problem.

The extent of the coronavirus’ spread in the Philippines is still unknown. Though the actual numbers remain low compared to other countries, its mortality rate suggests that the disease is going undetected in some communities.

Dr Josephino Hernandez (PGH) explained that because testing happens in hospitals, the people who are on the official tally are most likely those who have the money to get admitted

Online conversations have revolved around frustration with Duterte’s government and its seeming inability to present a clear plan for the outbreak, and Filipinos are reminding each other to vote more wisely in the 2022 elections.

“Health issues, especially the salaries and work conditions of frontliners will be a key electoral issue as well. Those who have lost their jobs due to COVID will also figure in.”

Historian and Academic Xiao Chua also points to the success of younger, more proactive local officials as shining beacons at a time of discontentment towards the national government.

These agile politicians appear more responsive to their respective constituencies, and their rising popularity is an indication that perhaps if not now, then one day, Filipinos could put their trust in the government

“No decent Filipino wants the government to fail in this battle,” he said.