A long dark tunnel

The major goal of many during the unprecedented pandemic and subsequent lockdown last year was to “just survive.” With no idea of what the outcome was going to be or how we would be able to move forward, most Filipinos just focused on getting by day by day and finding a way to keep food on the table. I think at the back of our minds we all felt (or hoped) that if we did our part and followed the guidelines, then the government would do theirs and find us a way forward.

Unfortunately, almost a year has passed and I don’t think we’ve been able to navigate the long dark tunnel of COVID-19 as efficiently or effectively as neighboring nations and other countries around the world. I don’t think we needed a formal study to show that our response has not been great and that the virus still remains a big factor in our struggling economy and our suffering people.

Many had previously said that at least we were in the same boat as America that was also floundering when it came to virus response. However, with vaccinations widely being rolled out in the US and a change in leadership, they are stepping up their virus response game. Meanwhile, we are still discussing what type of quarantine we’ll be in next month.

It’s sad to think that it has been a whole year since the first case of coronavirus was detected in the Philippines. If only we had been more proactive then about shutting our borders would the virus not have spread as quickly and aggressively as it did? Maybe. Sadly, we’ll never know, but here’s hoping we’ve learned our lesson from past blunders. While maintaining good international relations is one thing, in times of pandemic, health and stopping virus spread should remain a priority.

Take for example Australia, which has been doing wonderfully in terms of controlling COVID-19. One lone case was detected in Perth and the entire city went into lockdown. That’s roughly two million people staying at home due to one case, with leaders asking citizens to sacrifice for the communal good. It may be difficult, but no one hems and haws about it – they do what they are told because they know it will be for everyone’s benefit.

This sharp rapid response has worked wonders for Australia, as seen in Brisbane and Sydney. Their quick response to rising cases with steep restrictions and discipline has led to a subdued virus and a return to near normalcy. Australia, in general, has been very strict about its interstate and international travel, and like its neighbor New Zealand, has created an incredible model for virus response. It’s something we and other countries can definitely learn from.

This far into COVID-19, I don’t think we can afford to be slow and indecisive anymore. A “will we-won’t we” approach to restricting travel or mandating quarantine for international travelers or getting vaccines isn’t going to cut it anymore if we want to truly make an impact and make the government’s plan of prevent-detect-isolate-test-treat strategy really do its job. If measures are halfway, we won’t get the results we want. I think we’ve had a whole year to see that.

I hope we turn the corner soon. It’s been a long dark tunnel thus far and the immediate future’s not looking too bright. At this point, we need to decisively move forward and focus on what really matters. Securing vaccines and rolling out vaccination drives remains a big priority and I hope that we see some movement and soon. We can’t just shrug when we hear that the “EU is holding them hostage” and say “Oh well.” Now is the time for action. Our neighboring countries like Thailand, Vietnam, and even Indonesia have kicked off their vaccine efforts and we’re still sitting around waiting.

Meanwhile, the economy has hit record lows. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the economy contracted by 9.5 percent last year, the largest ever recorded, and the pandemic has continued to contribute to the drop in personal income and the closure of more and more small businesses. It’s very disheartening to see shops close up around us and know that people are losing jobs and business owners are folding under the loss of income.

Inflation has also ballooned at 3.03 percent compared to last year and the rising cost of essentials like food is crippling Filipinos everywhere. Vegetables, pork, and more continue to get more and more expensive, making households seek different ways to feed their families. While the President may have called a price freeze on certain items if supply and demand aren’t fully addressed, this will only be a stop gap solution.

Honestly, at this point, the way forward is clear if only we have the discipline and the leadership to forge ahead. We need to focus on the problem at hand and the rest will follow. The country needs to step up our COVID response. Create a plan to face new variants and provide the public with transparent and clear information. Vaccination programs should be 100 percent ready so that when the vaccines finally arrive, roll out will be smooth and efficient. If we don’t deal with the biggest threats in the room, all the other little ones will hardly matter.