PANDEMIC
“The COVIID-19 Pandemic has had a devastating impact on
the Philippines’ economy and healthcare system.”
COVID-19 is a threat to the global community, challenging
governments, health systems, and institutions.
The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19, caused by SARS-
CoV-2) has spread globally since its first report in Wuhan, China on
December 31, 2019. On January 30, the Philippines reported its first
two imported cases of COVID-19 in a couple from Wuhan.
Disaster-prone communities experienced more difficulties in
coping with COVID-19 restrictions and its severe economic impact.
• Lack of income opportunities and reduction of pay were pre-existing
challenges but had worsened significantly due to the pandemic.
• During the pandemic, communities reported continued insufficient
food supply and health, sanitation, and nutrition issues.
The COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines was a part of the worldwide pandemic of
coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus
2 (SARS-CoV-2).[4] As of July 2, 2024, there have been 4,140,383[1] reported cases, and
66,864[1] reported deaths, the fifth highest in Southeast Asia, behind Vietnam, Indonesia,
Malaysia, and Thailand. The first case in the Philippines was identified on January 30, 2020, and
involved a 38-year-old Chinese woman who was confined at San Lazaro Hospital in Metro
Manila. On February 1, 2020, a posthumous test result from a 44-year-old Chinese man turned
out positive for the virus, making the Philippines the first country outside China to record a
confirmed death from the disease.
The Philippine Health System and the Threat of Public Health Emergencies
The Philippines is a low- and middle-income archipelagic country located in
Southeast Asia with a population of more than 100 million people. The country has
a dual and decentralized health system composed of public and private sectors with
local government units being responsible for finance and operations. Despite
improvements in the past decade, the Philippines continues to face public health
challenges because of its resource and capacity limitations.
The Philippine government responded to both
developments by declaring a ‘community quarantine’ for
Metro Manila beginning March 15 until April 14, and was
made even more stringent by extending the quarantine to
the whole island of Luzon. This quarantine consisted of the
following measures: social distancing; suspension of
classes; closure of sea, air, and land travel; establishment
of checkpoints for temperature screening; temporary
closure of non-essential business establishments;
encouragement of work-from-home arrangements; and
prohibition of mass gatherings and non-essential public
events.
Public health workers reported stress and mental health exhaustion. Apart
from fear of infection during service provision, public health workers and
university staff experienced work overload, pressure to learn new technology, and
webinar fatigue. Mental health problems have surfaced as health workers and
young people have become more affected while support services remain
insufficient.Public health workers have reported actions to maintain service
delivery in the new normal such as use of telehealth and social media. However,
issues on workforce wellbeing and digital equity posed adaptation challenges.
Participants suggested partnership with higher education institutions as pivotal to
position local health systems towards recovery.
ECONOMIC IMPACT ON COMMUNITIES
The impact of COVID-19 on rural livelihoods has been severe. The main issues
facing impoverished communities in the Philippines were loss of income and
employment possibilities. In August 2020, job losses were particularly severe in the
construction sector (56%) and public transportation (52%) while cumulative job losses
were seen among informal workers such as laundry women, hairdressers, and workers
in small canteens; and in informal retail like “sari-sari” stores, street vendors, and
markets. The farming sector also saw significant job losses reportedly in 70% of
communities in formal agriculture and 61% in small-scale farming.
Philippines After Covid-19
Pandemic
Weighed down by the COVID-19
pandemic, the Philippine economy is
forecast to grow at 4.7 percent this year
before accelerating to 5.9 percent in 2022
and 6.0 percent in 2023. Local
governments have played a crucial role at
the front lines of the COVID crisis. A
current lack of resources prevents local
government units (LGUs) from fulfilling
their devolved mandates.
The Philippine healthcare system, a blend of public and private sectors, has
expanded and modernized due to the pandemic. Public hospitals focus on primary care,
while private hospitals focus on specialized treatments. Health IT, particularly telemedicine,
has seen potential, but there is no legislation supporting it. The Department of Health has
deployed 29,948 HRH to support health programs, aiming to improve service quality.
The DOH provided 12 UHC-related
modules to healthcare professionals,
addressing learning losses and social
protection issues. They offered social safety
nets and aid to impoverished populations
and resumed in-person instruction. The
Health Sector Strategy for 2023-2028 aims
to improve financial risk protection,
responsive health systems, and equitable
health outcomes for Filipinos.
The Philippine Department of Health
(DOH) has launched a strategy to protect
Filipinos from health risks, promote health,
and strengthen the healthcare system. The
strategy emphasizes primary care, aims to
address equity in healthcare access, and
pledges to collaborate with the legislative
branch to strengthen high-priority measures
like the Medical Reserve Corps and Centers
for Disease Control.
PANDEMIC
REFERENCES
https://ojs.wpro.who.int/ojs/public/journals/1/covid19/wpsar.2020.11.5.005Amit.pdf
https://www.brookings.edu/articles/the-philippine-economy-under-the-pandemic-from-asian-tiger-to-sick-man-agai
n/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR3b40Fu4O74SYt41nc5BnC39b_QlnRJAL-G1GT8D3F-cZmxvN-t0cEsQs0_aem_g0s
99p32SZztOrIpqAoLQw
https://doh.gov.ph/press-release/ili-and-covid-19-on-a-downward-trend-i
https://doh.gov.ph/press-release/ili-and-covid-19-on-a-downward-trend-in-phl/
