How do we solve a problem like corona?

This is not merely a health crisis, this is an economic and social crisis as well. We are called upon not only to prevent more death and infection. We need to be mindful of the impending economic collapse, the social chaos that may arise. And, if unabated, a political crisis too.

Remember that sovereignty and power reside in the people. And if people are hungry and angry, they can take matters into their own hands, and even governments cannot hope to survive. This virus has disrupted economic activities. Thousands of small-scale industries and microenterprises have closed shop and terminated the services of many workers. Many are bankrupt and insolvent. Millions have lost their jobs. Hundreds of thousands of OFWs have returned home, some with no hopes of returning to their jobs. Many have come home inside a coffin, dead and leaving many widows and orphans. This huge problem is getting out of hands. A virus is wreaking havoc in the national economy. And many business leaders are confused, bewildered, and do not know what to do.

Tourism is dead. Hotels rooms are empty, except only those that cater to returning Filipino tourists who are being quarantined. Restaurants are fighting for survival, with too-stringent protocols on social distancing. Casinos and resorts are paralyzed. They have zero revenues and staggering fixed costs. Air and sea transport are also hovering between disability and death. Land transport is in a state of chaos, with jeepneys being forced to stay out of the road, and with people encouraged to take their bikes and risk their lives in such a congested freeway as EDSA. Passengers with cancelled flights are sleeping under the bridges and skyways. There is a state of disarray, confusion, and disbelief.

Industries are struggling hard to recover from losses, with bank loans overdue and with no revenues coming. Manufacturing operations are hampered with workers being prevented from reporting for work. Management and business owners are compelling employees to report for work. Workers are trying their best to comply but they are being derailed by either their innate concern for self-preservation or they are being stopped at the checkpoints for lack of proper documentation. There are very difficult times, when people have to make a choice between “kinabuhi” or “panginabuhi”, life or livelihood.

The educational system is being disrupted. Even as I have the highest respect for our fellow Visayan, Dep-Ed Secretary Dr. Liling Briones, I do not believe her optimism that that public school system is adequately prepared for this new normal. Government is not ready to go digital, not even blended learning procedures. They do not have the wherewithal, they have no sufficient resources. Their logistics cannot match their optimism. They need to face reality and accept the fact that millions of teachers and pupils do not have laptops, or smart phones with which to facilitate the learning process. We have a big problem in education as we have a huge crisis in public health.

President Trump is going to lose to Vice President Joe Biden because of his lack of readiness to face the crisis. Here, President Duterte may be made of sterner stuff, but this coronavirus is a real hard nut to crack. We will most probably have a black Christmas and a very gloomy new year. Unless God will send a miracle, our future is dark. Heaven forbid.