The Gov't Has Done a Lousy Job Why the Attack On

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Why the attack on transparency? f utilized properly, the requirement for every government official or employee to fill out and submit a “Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth,” better known as a SALN, is a power- ful tool for government and the public to check abuse of one’s office or theft of public funds. Embedded in the 1987 Constitution, the requirement for a SALN covers all government employees who each must submit the notarized document upon assuming office and then every year thereafter. It has served as a useful tool for the ICommission on Audit, the Civil Service Commission, Fact: The gov’t has done a lousy job the Office of the Ombudsman, other politicians, and members of the public, including (and especially) the he Asian Development Bank (ADB) just If President Duterte wanted to emulate media to monitor the growth (or diminishment) of an came out with growth forecasts for the Ferdinand Marcos, his idol, he has certainly official’s personal wealth while in office. region as well as member countries. De- done it, in spades. Simple as it may sound, any increase in the net Tveloping Asia is to contract by 0.7 per- And now, in its latest forecast, the ADB worth of a government official during his or her term cent this year, and Developing Asia without expects the country to contract by 7.3 percent, of office is a potential red flag for investigators.- Un the newly industrialized economies will much deeper than the Southeast Asian average explained growth in assets and net worth from year contract by 0.5 percent. The Philippines will of 3.8 percent. If we actually contract as much to year could trigger probes into the source of such contract by 7.3 percent, and Thailand will as predicted, the question now is: How did the income, compared to one’s official salary and allow- contract by 8 percent. Philippines deteriorate from being the fourth ances, or assets gained before one joined government. What is the message that we get? That best performing country in 2019 to the second Their SALNs were used to oust the late former chief since every country, or almost everyone, will to the worst performing country in 2020? justice Renato Corona as well as his successor, Maria experience growth contraction, we’re not do- GET REAL Studies have shown that the major factor Lourdes Sereno. Impeachment proceedings against ing so bad after all, especially since Thailand SOLITA COLLAS-MONSOD that accounts for differences in growth per- former president Joseph Estrada hinged, in part, on is not doing as well. The worst is over. Our formance between countries is government discrepancies between his SALN and his lifestyle and government has done about as good a job as policies and institutions (accounting for 70- personal wealth. And to this day, calculations and any other. Duterte pa rin. 79 percent of differentials—initial condi- comparisons between the official salaries of the late Wrong, Reader. This government has not tions, natural resources and geography, and dictator Ferdinand Marcos and his wife Imelda and done as good a job as any other, and I am out- demography account for the rest). their enormous wealth are used by historians, critics, raged that as a result, we have allowed so many Conclusion: We should never have con- and even the Supreme Court to demonstrate the enor- of our middle and lower economic class Filipi- tracted as badly as we did. Who is respon- mity of the plunder that supported their conjugal rule. nos to suffer. We all should be told the truth, and WE SHOULD NEVER HAVE sible for this? Without a doubt, the Duterte Thanks but no thanks, however, to Ombudsman President Duterte should apologize to the peo- administration. Samuel Martires, himself a former associate justice of ple for the ineptitude of his government. In fact, CONTRACTED AS BADLY But we don’t have to even look at the data the Supreme Court, the efficacy of the SALN as a check whether he is sick or not, I think he should step to conclude that the government is respon- on official abuse is about to end. down, and allow Vice President Leni Robredo to AS WE DID. WHO IS sible. All we have to do is look at who was Just this week, the Office of the Ombudsman made take over. Then we will have a better chance of crowing over the Philippines’ growth perfor- public new guidelines on access to and use of the SALNs getting over the health and economic crisis that RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS? mance in the past four years. Was it not the of public officials. Under the new rules, access to SALNs this administration has exacerbated. administration? Therefore, they should take may only be availed by the following personalities: the of- Why do I think the government has done responsibility for this year’s execrable per- ficial involved or a duly authorized representative, bear- a lousy job? Let’s look at the ADB data. Only WITHOUT A DOUBT, formance, too. ers of court orders in relation to pending cases, and the consider, Reader. As of the end of 2019 (pre- And Reader, you can see why President Office of the Ombudsman’s Field Investigation Office for COVID-19), the Philippines’ growth perfor- THE DUTERTE ADMINISTRATION Duterte and his administration stumbled so the purpose of conducting a fact-finding investigation. mance of 6 percent made it rank No. 4 out badly: Instead of concentrating on the prob- Of note is the absence of the media, as representa- of the 11 countries (Cambodia 7.1 percent, cent (higher than the regional average), while lem at hand, there were too many distrac- tive of the general public, from the list of those enti- Vietnam 7 percent, Myanmar 6.8 percent) in the forecast for Thailand was -4.8 percent. tions—it had to destroy ABS-CBN, it had to tled to request for copies of SALNs. The Ombudsman’s Southeast Asia. Compare that to Thailand’s But that was before the Philippines’ actual pass an anti-terrorism bill, it had to try to order effectively shuts the door to public scrutiny of 2.4 percent, second to the bottom (Singapore growth (more specifically, a contraction) for establish a revolutionary government, it had the finances of public officials. Such a terrible irony was the bottom at 0.7 percent). Obviously, the the first six months was published. And the to protect the Chinese government, it had to given that the Office of the Ombudsman was created Philippines was far above the average growth country showed a huge contraction in this conceal the problems regarding the Presi- precisely to ferret out secret or unexplained wealth for the region, which was 4.4 percent. year’s second quarter of 16.5 percent (first dent’s health from the people. among government officials in preparation for- sub Then, COVID-19 struck. And in ADB’s April quarter, -0.7 percent). Reader, the Philippines And who suffers for this? Let me remind mission of cases before the Sandiganbayan. 2020 outlook, the Southeast Asian region’s has been keeping track of its GDP since 1946. you, Reader. It is the middle class and the poor. The designation of a SALN as a public document growth performance was forecasted to slow Never before, not even in the country’s debt That’s at least 90 percent of our population. is precisely to make it available for public scrutiny. To down to 1 percent. The Philippines was ex- crisis under Ferdinand Marcos, has it per------shroud it in unprecedented secrecy (courtesy of the pected to have a growth performance of 2 per- formed so poorly. [email protected] principal anti-corruption office no less) is to undermine its very purpose and thwart the Constitution’s mandate for a government of transparency and accountability. People are aware, too, of the generally obsequious A vision of peace, prosperity amid the pandemic attitude of the courts toward high-ranking officials, as well as the wariness of the Ombudsman’s field officers he establishment of full diplomatic re- strong and strategic areas of cooperation to be linked in any way to the leak of official documents. lations between Israel, the United Arab with the Philippines. We are positive that this What is the root of the Ombudsman’s recent or- Emirates, and Bahrain is a watershed COMMENTARY milestone will expand new developments der? It appears to have stemmed from the refusal of Tmoment for the Middle East. While RAFAEL HARPAZ between our countries in the areas of agri- President Duterte and officials around him to release this region of the world is often thought to culture, tourism after the pandemic, energy his SALNs for the past two years. Instead of remind- be somewhat of a dysfunctional family, the sector, trade and investments, and overseas ing Malacañang of the President’s SALN obligation, Abraham Accords Peace Agreement rep- we believe that this kind of agreement will ef- Filipino workers. the Ombudsman’s memorandum could only bolster resents a conscious decision to instead be a fectively serve to immunize countries against Combining forces and finding common the Palace’s defiance of not just the Constitution but normal one. It is a historic event that marks a the calamity that comes with extremism, for ground have never been more urgent than also of the principle and practice of transparency that new beginning for the region, and in addition which peace is the only remedy. now, in the midst of a global pandemic. previous administrations had adhered to. to peace, will bring about tangible results The United States played a leading role in Israel has granted significant assistance Indeed, in yet another instance of defying the princi- that will be felt immediately. brokering the Accords, and remains a true ally to the Philippines to help its fight against ples of transparency, even such a simple act as the disclo- The peace agreements represent an alter- of all sides and a central player in the region. COVID-19. We have donated personal equip- sure of the appointment of a government official is now native and paradigm-shifting step forward Ultimately, the peace agreements repre- ment to the first responders of the Depart- left to the discretion of the appointee. According to a Rap- for the region. It has fostered a revolution- sent an alignment of values. Israel, the UAE, ment of National Defense and the Philippine pler report, Malacañang has for months now refused to ary opportunity for other Arab nations to es- and Bahrain are all facing the shared challeng- National Police and learning equipment to release announcements of the names of new appointees. tablish formal ties with the State of Israel, a es of climate change, diminishing resources, help support the Department of Education. Why is this alarming? “The appointments of gov- concept previously deemed far-fetched and and most pertinently, of coronavirus. It is es- These initiatives represent just a drop in ernment officials are critical decisions made by the impossible. It provides a striking alternative sential that we focus on agreement over dis- the ocean of what is to come out of the poten- President which impact the public,” the report noted. to those radical forces who oppose peace and agreement, and combine our capabilities for tial peace treaties between Israel, the UAE, “For instance, the Chief Executive appoints Supreme prefer to perpetuate war until victory is won, the well-being of our citizens. This is exactly and Bahrain. Court justices, police and military chiefs, heads of over resolving conflict in a peaceful manner what this agreement has achieved. The Abra- This week, as we celebrate the beginning regulatory agencies, and department heads. Trans- and reaping the benefits that cooperation can ham Accords Peace Agreement should be the of the new Jewish year, let us hope and be- parency on presidential appointees allows the public provide. Our sincere hope is that other coun- guiding light for all other nations of the re- lieve that the coming year will bring peace, to scrutinize these new government officials and also tries will see the connections we’ve forged gion of the good that can come from making security, prosperity, and most importantly, voice their concerns regarding these appointees.” between our peoples and economies through peace with Israel. good health to all the people in Israel, the What is the motive for keeping the Filipino people these agreements, and realize the benefits The agreements also open abundant Philippines, and all over the world. in the dark about what this government is doing, and that they, too, could enjoy. opportunities for trilateral cooperation be------how honest its people are? What is the Duterte admin- This historic event is an important stage tween Israel, the Philippines, and the United Rafael Harpaz is the Israeli ambassador to istration so determined to hide from the public’s eyes? in ending the conflict in the Middle East, and Arab Emirates. Both Israel and the UAE have the Philippines.

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Commuter inferno e open with words of wisdom from Sen. Nancy Binay, who has in the past been derided for her supposed lack of preparation for the post she occupies but who has now become a source of practical, down-to-earth, and tren- chant observations. On the transport crisis that greet- ed workers and commuters on the first day of the general community quarantine (GCQ), Binay commented: “Di po lahat ay mayW kotse. Di lahat ay may motorsiklo o bisikleta. Di lahat kayang maglakad ng ilang kilometro sa gitna ng baha at ulan. Di po sila experiment (Not everyone has a car. Not everyone has a motorcycle or bicycle. Not everyone has Impending reign of terror with Anti-Terror Act the capacity to walk several kilometers in the middle of floods and rain. They are not an experiment). Our work- hat the critics of the Anti-Terrorism Act technology, and the executive director of the ers and the commuting public don’t deserve this kind of of 2020 range from far left to far right in Anti-Money Laundering Council. The secre- treatment. For the past three months, they’ve sacrificed the political spectrum is a red flag which tariat is the National Intelligence Coordinating more than enough.” Tshould cause us to sit up and take notice. Agency. These executives, or their representa- Binay was reacting to news coverage of stranded The last time this unity of sentiment oc- tives, approve the detention of the “terrorists.” commuters bemoaning the absence or lack of public curred, as far as I can recall, was during the And the detainees can be kept for up to 24 transport last June 1. It would have seemed only logi- protests against the Marcos dictatorship in days before they bring up charges—with only cal that in the face of the loosening of controls to jump- 1983 onward. Left, center, and right marched the imprimatur of the ATC, not any judge. start the stalled economy, adequate preparations for shoulder to shoulder against this obscenity In essence, the supporters of the bill (Lac- the shift to GCQ would have been carried out. After all, against the Filipino people. Since then, I have son, Año, and Lorenzana—all ex-military/ there was more than enough time to study the situation, not marched with the left, nor have I agreed police) feel that this is what is needed to stop ready workplaces and business districts for the deluge with their objectives. But today their objections GET REAL terrorism. But unfortunately, they assume that of workers, and ensure that going to and from work af- deserve support. SOLITA COLLAS-MONSOD everyone they will detain are indeed terrorists. ter months of quarantine would be as orderly, and safe, What makes left and right (with a few ex- The proof to support that assumption will as possible for the riding public. ceptions) stand together? What is the Anti-Ter- of the detainees’ activities, right to a lawyer, come from keeping these people under deten- But what awaited workers/commuters instead? As rorism Act? Originating in the Senate, it was right to visits from the family, etc. etc. tion. If they already had the proof, they would the headline of this newspaper pointed out: “Chaos as approved in toto by the House, thus removing So why are we in a snit? Well, amid the have gone to the courts and filed charges, don’t thousands return to work in Metro Manila.” Ordinary the need for bicameral negotiations. It can be UN standards and the beautiful language car- you think? That’s the scary part. folk were forced to walk for kilometers, or hitch rides signed immediately by the President. rying safeguards, there are poison pills. The About the safeguards—we are all witnesses from private vehicles, or elbow each other into scarce If you have the desire to read the Act, you bill broadens the definition of terrorism—too of abuses on the part of the police (the military free rides belatedly offered by the government, thus end- will find out that both critics and -support much. And if one threatens, or incites, or con- have for the most part behaved themselves). ing up breaking distancing rules. Some daily wage-earn- ers have bases for their stands. Sen. Panfilo spires, or plans to incite other people to terror- What is to prevent them, with much more lee- ers ended up blowing a whole day’s pay on taxis or TNVS Lacson, for example, the main sponsor of ize, one is punished (12 years’ imprisonment way, from abusing even more? Safeguards never rides. Others who resorted to alternative transport like the Senate bill, offers, as proof that it offers for threats and inciting, life imprisonment for bothered them before. Scary. bicycles then found themselves on the receiving end of no danger, that several provisions were bor- planning or conspiring). What constitutes a I am afraid that this bill, which lends it- government wrath, with Metropolitan Manila Develop- rowed from the United States and Australia, threat or an incitement is not clearly specified. self to even more abuses (because it gives the ment Authority spokesperson Celine Pialago threaten- that it used United Nations standards, that I guess it is up to the police or military to inter- police more power and penalizes them less) ing to file charges and impose fines on biking advocates other countries (Thailand, Singapore) had pret. And we know how fast they charge people will be the start of a reign of terror—not ter- who set up temporary barriers on Edsa to protect bike longer detentions without warrant. All true. with “inciting to sedition.” ror by nonstate actors, striking fear among riders from early morning traffic. Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año Then there is the warrantless arrest. Peo- the populace, but terror by the government, The next day, the responsible officials found a target assures that the people have nothing to fear, ple are arrested not by order of a court, but by as in the Reign of Terror in France in 1870. for their convenient ire. Who else but the beleaguered that only the terrorists and their supporters order (written, to assure us), of the Anti-Ter- Given the behavior of the police on the commuters who had suffered at their hands? should be afraid. He does not elaborate. rorism Council (ATC), which is tasked with whole these past three years, I would have MMDA General Manager Jojo Garcia said that “peo- Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana also implementing the Anti-Terrorism Act. The thought that their power should have been ple seemed to have lost focus” on the COVID-19 threat assures us that the bill carries enough safe- ATC is composed of the executive secretary, curbed, not increased. And you know what when the quarantine was loosened and the public head- guards against abuses. And it does—reports the national security adviser, secretaries of happens with power—it corrupts. ed out for work. Transportation Secretary Arthur Tu- to the Commission on Human Rights, torture foreign affairs, defense, justice, finance, local ------gade, while admitting that the bedlam “was a result of is a no-no, custodial centers must keep logs government, information and communications [email protected] what we call failure of implementation and we need to correct it” (note the passive voice—whose fault, pray tell, was that failure of implementation?), also insisted the government had “never promised” that transpor- A degrowth economy in a post-pandemic world tation would be available once the GCQ was declared. But what was it expecting? Government regulations oday, June 6, is Global Degrowth Day, an Second, post-COVID-19 prosperity does had effectively halved the capacity of public forms of annual celebration to make the public not require a general increase in wealth, but transport due to the need to observe social distancing. aware of the value of an economy that is COMMENTARY the better distribution of that wealth. We How hard a thought process was it to consider next the Tnot addicted to GDP growth and geared to- JED ALEGADO need an economic framework that estab- logical consequence of that situation—that many work- ward degrowth. Activists, academics, and other AND JULIEN-FRANÇOIS GERBER lishes a basic universal income and a strong ers, whose return to work the government and private supporters of the degrowth movement have progressive taxation of income, profits, and sector had declared essential, would be left stranded or been celebrating this day since 2013. Degrowth the livelihoods of people around the world. wealth. We need to recognize care work and forced to walk under the searing sun? came from the French word “decroissance,” and While the planet is “breathing” somewhat at essential public services such as health and Motorcycles and bicycles, on the other hand, are it refers to a river going back to its normal flow last and pollution levels have been reduced, the education for their intrinsic value. not allowed to take on passengers. When asked about a after a disastrous flood. present unplanned and chaotic downscaling Third, we need a transformation toward married pair of health frontliners commuting to work, The degrowth movement aims for a good of economic activity is not degrowth. Instead, regenerative agriculture based on biodiversity Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año suggested life for all that is not hinged on a growth-based it is an example of why degrowth is needed. If conservation, sustainable and mostly local and they could add a sidecar to keep their distance. But that economy. This includes deceleration, time wel- there is one thing the pandemic has taught us, vegetarian food production, as well as fair ag- would make their vehicle a tricycle, and tricycles are not fare, and conviviality. Among its main prin- it is this: the fragility of the current model of ricultural employment conditions and wages. allowed on major thoroughfares. (The Palace added to ciples are a reduction of production and con- neoliberal development with its focus on false Fourth, we need to reduce consumption, the muddle by first saying sidecars were now allowed sumption in the global north and a liberation targets (growth) instead of public services like including that of travel. We need a drastic shift on national highways, then retracting the statement just from the one-sided Western capitalist para- health care, its massive inequalities, and its from luxury and wasteful consumption to ba- hours later.) digm of development. Achieving these will al- unsustainability. Moving forward, we cannot sic, necessary, sustainable, and satisfying con- Bicycles, long pushed as a healthy alternative to low citizens to exercise agency in charting their rely on business as usual anymore. We must sumption and travel. We need to reorganize gas-emitting vehicles, have gained adherents among own collective pathways. These are in contrast rethink the way we conceive of our economies. around a new conception of the “good life” and local governments, but national officials still seem -un with mainstream economic principles of capi- Given the cracks of neoliberalism that the rethink what is important in our communities. willing to allow them leeway on city streets. Pialago, tal accumulation and productivity, the two ob- pandemic has exposed, the extent of our eco- Lastly, we need to cancel debts (both from quick with what she imagines are “solutions,” said bicy- sessions of capitalist modernity. logical overshoot, and the fact that the poorest richer countries and international financial -in cles should be confined to sidewalks—even if these are The advent of neoliberalism has brought countries still need room to adjust their econ- stitutions), especially for workers and small busi- nonexistent in many areas, occupied by pedestrians and more sophisticated ways of ramping up eco- omies to allow millions of people to attain a ness owners and for countries in the global south. street vendors and filled with obstructions like street nomic growth. Through the World Bank and dignified level of existence, a post-pandemic This pandemic has presented us with an signs, trees, and sheds. the International Monetary Fund’s policies scenario will require industrialized nations and opportunity to chart a more just, inclusive, The bottom line is that officials like Tugade, Año, and of structural adjustments, and state co-opta- upper classes everywhere to radically down- and sustainable COVID-19 recovery. It is the the MMDA worthies had more than ample time to sit tion due to corporate greed as manifested in scale their resource and energy demands. alternative to the current ways of think- down over the last 70-plus days and figure out how the deregulation, privatization, and economic Together with more than 170 academ- ing—a degrowth-based economy that will “new normal” in transportation would work out. They liberalization policies, we have become wit- ics based in The Netherlands, we are calling usher us toward creating open, connected, didn’t even have to wait for the GCQ to be declared. nesses to the encroachment of commodities for five key areas of policy intervention in a and localized economies based on solidarity. There was certainly enough opportunity for them, if and capital in our everyday lives, while the post-COVID-19 world: First, we need to focus ------they were so inclined, to draw up a thorough, competent richest nations still seek to grow their econo- on human needs, not GDP growth. We need Jed Alegado teaches post-graduate cours- plan on how to best manage the complex and confusing mies without apparent limit. to differentiate between sectors that can in- es at the Ateneo de Manila University transition that would ensue on the streets once controls The lockdowns imposed by countries af- crease and need investment, and sectors that School of Government (ASoG) in the Philip- were loosened. fected by COVID-19 have seen a massive reduc- need to radically degrow due to their funda- pines. Julien-François Gerber is an assistant But they failed, and the Monday commuter inferno tion in daily economic activities. It has already mental unsustainability or their role in driv- professor at the International Institute of was the result. caused the loss of countless jobs and affected ing unnecessary consumption. Social Studies in The Hague, Netherlands.

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Women and the burden of care

hen anyone in the family gets sick, chances are it is the mother (nanay, ina, mommy) who bears the burden of caring for the ailing husband, daughter, son, sibling, grandmother/ grandfather. Despite the changes in the social order and the shifting sands of gender relations, the “burden of care” still falls heavily on women, who Which kind of Filipino are we? must balance responsibilities outside the home, house management,W time commitments, and even her own eader, last week’s column expounded on of. What is the Filipino made of? Is what we health to look after the ailing in the family. the three requirements to successfully showed to the world in 1986, when we peace- This domestic role is reflected in women’s roles in deal with the COVID-19 crisis: a well-pre- fully deposed a dictator, when we put the our society, too. The overwhelming majority of school Rpared health system, good governance, country above ourselves—was that a one-off, teachers, for instance, are women. Many in the front- and social capital. This column gives up- never to be replicated thing? I bet not. lines of the fight versus the COVID-19 contagion are dates on the second and the third, as far as I The Palace thanked the taipans and the women—nurses, midwives, doctors, researchers, even can see. oligarchs for cooperating with the govern- hospital personnel who transport the sick, help look af- These three working together will flatten ment (the ones the President was cussing for ter their needs, scrub and disinfect the surroundings. the curve of the rise of COVID-19 so it does their greed?). They should be acknowledged So, too, must we acknowledge the continuing efforts not overwhelm our health system (that’s why for doing what is right. But remember that of those who serve on the sidelines: househelp, sales the lockdowns), and ensure that the econom- they are giving from their excess, not from clerks, vendors, even policewomen who somehow soft- ic and social impact is minimized, especially GET REAL their substance. Their profits will be less, but en the harsh ways of law enforcers. on our poor. SOLITA COLLAS-MONSOD they will not be losing. And it’s worthwhile to realize that this pattern is What is needed from our government are They are better, though, than those who, replicated elsewhere, even in prosperous, supposedly targeted policy responses, as opposed to a gen- in these vulnerable times, prey on people to egalitarian societies. eral, divide-by-n (everybody gets equal share) worst case scenario for the Philippines—a make a quick buck. And what about the cou- But is the gender disparity in terms of health care approach. From news reports, the government reduction of about 0.6 percent of GDP (from ple who posted the receipt of their purchas- really only a matter of unequal burdens and matters has announced a P27.1 billion financial package 0.3 percent). Methinks its worst-worst case es from S&R in Ayala Alabang amounting to such as wage disparity, low status, and employment to fight the effects of COVID-19, which includes scenario—a loss of 730,000 jobs and a drop P950,636, together with a picture of them- insecurity? P3.1 billion for test kits. That means P24 billion of 1.7 percent of GDP—may be more like it. selves, plus the filled-up grocery carts? Sadly, it also has a bearing on the quality of health for the economic and social costs. Let’s take a closer look at the package— Pitted against these vermin are the Fili- care available, and the health outcomes of women. Too little, too much, or just right? Let’s see. P2.8 billion for farmers and fisherfolk. The pinos who think not of “me” but of “we,” and Writing in the health web page ThinkGlobalHealth, That P24 billion is about 1.3 percent of the coun- program lends a maximum of P25,000 per give of their substance even though it hurts, Julia Smith, a research associate in the Faculty of Health try’s GDP (P1.86 trillion in 2019). Let’s compare borrower. Do the math, folks. The fund will and do not seek glory for themselves. Exam- Sciences of Simon Fraser University, points out that the that with Australia’s stimulus package—$17.6 accommodate 112,000 borrowers. There are ple: a businessman who has 700 people in his medical field often overlooks gender disparities in major billion, which, compared with its GDP of $1.89 about 5 million farmers and fisherfolk, per employ. His projects have been suspended, public health crises, which impact on the survival of wom- trillion, amounts to 9.3 percent. Even the Unit- the Census of Agriculture. and he cannot collect from his clients. But en. Data from the current Ebola outbreak in the Demo- ed States, which has been thought by many If the Philippines is to get through this he still met his payroll, and gave them their cratic Republic of Congo, writes Smith, “indicate that two- to have responded to the COVID-19 threat, is crisis without hurting its poor too much, the 13th-month pay. Groaning, but still alive. No thirds of the people infected are women.” These higher proposing a package of 4.7 percent of its GDP. government has to go back to its drawing wonder his employees love him. On a small- infection rates, she reports, “are attributed to women’s What do you think, Reader? board for a better way. I understand the eco- er scale: A man who gives his driver, garden- social responsibilities as caregivers and due to their lack of To remind: NCR, Calabarzon, and the rest nomic cluster of the Cabinet is working out er, and caddy what they would have earned trust in unknown male health providers.” Those in charge of Luzon were responsible for 3.2 percentage a better stimulus package. Millions of Filipi- without the lockdown. And, above all, our “need to take these factors into account if they are to reach points of the country’s 6.2-percent growth nos are hoping they succeed. doctors, nurses, health workers, and priests those most at risk of infection and most in need of care.” in 2018—more than half. Not to mention the Now let’s go back to the third leg of the who selflessly give of themselves. Women are penalized for their gender roles in oth- other parts of the country like Davao and tripod—social capital. That’s us. If the gov- Which kind of Filipino are you, Reader? er ways, says Smith. In response to the Ebola outbreak Cebu, also in lockdown. The ADB will have ernment can’t do it, it is left to us—the peo- On your answer depends whether we win the in West Africa, “maternal health clinics were closed as to go back to its drawing board to estimate ple—to help ourselves. war against COVID-19 or not. resources were diverted to the outbreak response. Con- the negative impact on GDP of COVID-19. Or It is said that a crisis doesn’t make a per------sequently, the maternal mortality rate in the region, shift from its moderate-case scenario to its son. Rather, it reveals what a person is made [email protected] already one of the highest in the world, increased by 70 percent.” To cope with the COVID-19 outbreak, Smith suggests that women, and policymakers and prac- titioners, should ask questions like: Do pregnant wom- COVID-19 and greater disaster resilience en in quarantined areas have access to care? Are sexual and reproductive supplies, such as contraception, read- he jolt of a new coronavirus out- address clusters of infections. ily available? break should motivate governments The fifth priority is to tackle the growing Outbreak responses, says Smith, “consistently fail to strengthen resilience to disasters, COMMENTARY link between environmental changes and to meaningfully include gender analysis. This is despite Tespecially frequent in the Philippines. VINOD THOMAS new viruses, and the dangerous interaction substantial evidence from other researchers that gender COVID-19 continues to unfold dangerously between particulate matter and viral respi- inequities exacerbate outbreaks, and responses that do as seen in Italy, Iran, and Spain. In the Phil- ratory tract infections that are being noted not incorporate gender analysis exacerbate inequities.” ippines, that the new coronavirus broke out community transmission. There is a need in epidemiological studies. Two-thirds of Smith points out that while the focus is on differ- as communities were struggling to recover for decentralized testing centers, including known pathogens and three-quarters of new- ences between women and men and between girls and from the Taal Volcano eruption highlights drive-by testing and quarantine facilities. ly emerging pathogens are spread from ani- boys, “inequities related to race, ethnicity, sexuality the urgency for preparedness. And the rainy Each province should do a “stress test” to re- mals to humans, triggered by increased hu- and religion are integrated.” Add to the list inequities in season will soon be upon us, with the atten- veal crucial gaps, such as in diagnostic equip- man encroachment on wildlife territory. So, income and social standing. Despite responding to tre- dant fears of fiercer typhoons and floods. ment and prevention protocols. protecting biodiversity should be a priority mendous pressure to put in more hours at work and risk That the Philippines scores above the Third, as in most Asian countries, the for national health, too. exposure to deadly organisms, the mostly female health global average on the World Health Organi- government needs to increase spending to The sixth is clear communication of risk workforce must put up as well with low wages and even, zation’s Global Health Security Index is of no strengthen the capability of health services levels and steps to help health profession- in the case of frontline workers here, the lack of protec- comfort. This is because the global average of to deal with public health emergencies, par- als and the public to prepare as calmly as tive equipment to ensure their continued health. the measures of prevention, early detection, ticularly surges in case numbers. Govern- possible for emergencies. This would help Still and all, despite the gendered differences in treat- rapid response, health system quality, stan- ment health expenditure as a share of GDP in reduce panic-buying, for example, as in the ment and privilege, women are stepping up to the chal- dards, and risk environment is a low 40.2 out the Philippines needs to be higher for a mid- COVID-19 outbreak. It is crucial to under- lenge. Vice President Leni Robredo, the highest-ranking of 100. The Philippines’ score is 47.6 (53/195 dle-income country. Another concern is that stand diagnostic tools and surveillance sys- woman official of the land, responded promptly to the countries), showing that preparedness for Filipinos make sizable out-of-pocket expens- tems linking laboratory information with crisis by distributing protective equipment to hospi- COVID-19 needs to be fortified. The shortage es for health. By one estimate, there is one electronic health records. China’s handling tals and launching a shuttle service for health work- of test kits is alarming. doctor for 33,000 patients and one hospital of COVID-19 showed the cost of delaying the ers stranded because of the transport lockdown. The COVID-19 is still not well enough known for bed for 1,121 patients. announcement of the outbreak. Global les- TOWNS (The Outstanding Women in the Nation’s Ser- us to be able to anticipate its behavior. But we Fourth, Asian countries should strength- sons speak to the need to build public trust. vice) Foundation, a group of women achievers, with do know from past emergencies the priorities en partnerships between the public and In the Philippines, overseas workers need to the help of major conglomerates and private donors, for action. The following six priorities are par- private sectors, for example between gov- get accurate and timely information for wise is likewise sourcing and distributing scarce protection ticularly relevant to the Philippines. ernment agencies and the pharmaceutical travel decisions over Easter, for example. equipment, while groups like Rock Ed, led by TOWNS The first urgency is to protect high-risk industry, to help maintain supply chains. The Philippines is increasingly at the awardee Gang Badoy Capati, are mobilizing donors to groups—the elderly, the sick, and frontline Collaborative approaches exist for tuberculo- sharp end of disaster risks. COVID-19 might prepare food for the health frontliners who cannot even health care workers—by taking measures to sis, AIDS, and malaria, but more is needed for just provide the needed push to invest more find the time to step out for a meal or snack. reduce their exposure to the virus and to pri- disasters on the scale of COVID-19 and SARS. and better in disaster resilience. Such initiatives are life-saving while also raising oritize them for medical support. A flexible loan facility, as the World Bank and ------the morale of beleaguered health workers. Nurtur- Second, clear surveillance protocols are the Asian Development Bank have for natural Vinod Thomas ([email protected]) is a ing and caring and loving, it seems, are embedded in needed. Close attention must be paid to high- disasters, can boost the country’s resources. visiting professor at the Asian Institute of women’s DNA. risk groups in each province and to monitor Networks for health professionals are vital to Management.