Dealing with COVID-19: Just reboot the economy?

March 30, 2020

POLICY NOTE

The coronavirus pandemic and the expansive efforts to address it are new and unprecedented. But they also exposed many old problems that have always been there.

COVID-19 emergency powers: Too much, not enough

March 24, 2020

There is reason to be skeptical about more powers for the president. It’s nearly two months since the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the country and what government has done with the powers it already has is not encouraging.

Duterte administration’s bumbling, stumbling COVID-19 response

March 21, 2020

BY SONNY AFRICA

The poorest already have it worst – and we’re not even sure if the virus is really on its way to being contained.

COVID-19 and the Philippine Healthcare System

March 20, 2020

BY JOSE LORENZO LIM

Earlier this year amid the growing threat of the COVID-19 virus, DOH Secretary Duque said that the Philippines does not have a weak healthcare system. But is the country’s health system really “not weak” and ready for this pandemic?

Tourism package under COVID-19 response a “Php14-billion lie” — IBON

March 18, 2020

The Php14 billion allocation identified by government’s economic managers is actually part of TIZA funds for big-ticket infrastructure projects

Recycled Php27.1 B COVID-19 response package betrays govt complacency

March 18, 2020

NEWS

The Duterte administration’s Php27.1 billion package of so-called priority actions exposes its complacency in dealing with the pandemic and the disruption to people’s livelihoods. This is just another result of the government’s overly militarist mindset where forceful action is crudely seen as decisive action. The spread of COVID-19 needs much more government resources and a much more holistic approach.

3 of 5 workers in Luzon will likely lose wages, earnings due to Luzon lockdown

March 18, 2020

NEWS

Potentially 14.4 million non-regular workers and informal earners, or three-out-of five employed persons in Luzon, are most at risk of lost wages and earnings due to the Luzon-wide lockdown. Government should take necessary measures to contain the spread of COVID-19, but these should be particularly sensitive to the plight of low income workers and their families.

Luzon lockdown threatens livelihoods of 11M workers, informal sector earners

March 17, 2020

NEWS

The Duterte administration’s declaration of an enhanced community quarantine over the whole of Luzon threatens to displace nearly 11 million workers and informal sector earners. While government is correct to take all necessary measures to stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus, it is failing to do this in a way that protects the poorest and most vulnerable Filipinos.

“Just follow” won’t beat COVID-19

March 16, 2020

COMMENTARY
BY SONNY AFRICA

The coronavirus threat is real and it’s critical for the government to respond quickly and decisively. But what if government’s response is muddled and, worse, ill-conceived?