How The Philippines Is Fighting COVID-19

Post by Anna Malindog-Uy of the theaseanpost.com

Armed policeman a checkpoint along a road in Cebu City, the central Philippines on 24 June 2020, after the government tightened its enhanced community quarantine restrictions amidst rising cases of COVID-19 infections in the city. (AFP Photo)

After more than three months of hard lockdowns, the Philippines is now trying to ease out quarantine restrictions for its economy to bounce back. While the focus is on saving lives and looking after the health and well-being of every Filipino, developing economies like the Philippines with a population of around 109 million people – a high percentage of which come from hand-to-mouth households – simply cannot afford the use of containment measures like hard lockdowns for the entire country indefinitely. Hence, the government has considered steps to safely and gradually reopen the economy.   

As the Philippines reopens its economy by easing out restrictions after successful lockdowns, it has experienced a reverse trend in the number of COVID-19 positive cases. The number of deaths has been reduced to single-digit, while the number of positive cases has increased significantly to three-digit. 

This reversal is somewhat expected because more people are now back on the streets. One of the contributing factors to the rise in COVID-19 positive cases is the influx of returning Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), of which some have tested positive upon arrival in the Philippines. For instance, as of 2 July, out of the 99,353 returning OFWs, 2,424 were confirmed as being COVID-19 positive.    

Likewise, the 30 June World Health Organisation (WHO) Philippines COVID-19 Situation Report, also stated that the higher number of cases in the past month was also in part due to: (a) enhanced surveillance, (b) the processing of backlog data; (c) real-time reporting through the mobile application COVID KAYA; and (d) expansion of the laboratory network for COVID-19 testing – allowing for a more realistic picture of the actual number of cases in the country. 

The report further stated that the “national transmission assessment” for the Philippines remains in Stage 2 or “localized community transmission”, with data indicating an increasing trend, and likely higher transmission in the National Capital Region (NCR) and Central Visayas particularly Cebu city, with evidence of cases exported from these two regions to other areas with lower levels of transmission. 

Silver Linings

Though the reverse trend in the number of positive cases is quite alarming, the COVID-19 situation in the Philippines is not all bleak. There are silver linings, which the country can capitalize on as it continues to fight the novel coronavirus. For instance, it is a fact that the Philippines is one of those countries which has: (a) the lowest deaths per one million population, and based on the WHO report mentioned earlier, the proportion of deaths has decreased to 3.4 percent (b) the country has one of the lowest total cases per one million population; and (c) it has a relatively low number of serious, critical COVID-19 patients. 

Based on the Worldometer forecast, as of 3 July 2020, the deaths/1M population was 12; the total positive cases/1M population was 368, and the number of serious critical cases is 166. Secretary Carlito Galvez of the National Task Force (NTF) on COVID-19 has claimed that more or less there is already a recovery rate of around 40-50 percent, which has not been reported, given that the number of recoveries declared is only of those who have been admitted to hospitals. 

Another indicator suggesting that the COVID-19 situation is still manageable is the percentages for hospital beds and mechanical ventilator utilization for COVID-19 patients. As of 2 July, just 46.57 percent of the 3,305 ward beds are occupied, while only 40.78 percent of the 9,330 isolation beds are occupied. The more comforting information is the fact that out of 1,341 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds, only 36.32 percent are occupied; while out of the 2,000 mechanical ventilators, only 22.45 percent are in use. 

Source Various

Another reassuring development is the fact that while the COVID-19 infection rate in the Philippines is fluctuating, it is also declining – from 20 percent (during the period when testing was limited) to roughly five percent now. According to the WHO, a five percent or lower positivity rate is an affirmative indicator that a country’s management of its COVID-19 cases is improving. However, the government of the Philippines must work harder to further reduce the positivity rate to below five percent if it wants to secure victory over the deadly COVID-19 virus.

The reproduction number (Rt) based on the latest data is Rt = 1.05 ± 0.03, which means each COVID-19 positive individual is infecting an average of just 1.05 persons. While reassuring, the goal is for Rt to be less than one and to sustain it. This would mean that, on average, an infected person is infecting less than one person, eventually stopping the transmission of the COVID-19 virus. 

The lowering Rt trend is due to efforts in social/physical distancing, wearing face masks, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), washing of hands, and other means to stop the spread of the virus. This shows that the prescribed minimum health standards by the government are not only vital but also effective in the country’s fight against the virus.

Realities And Responses

Like many countries in the developing world, the Philippines lacks hospital capacity, with a public health-care system that is in dire need of improvement, and this condition has been magnified many times over because of the pandemic. The country also has not much productive capacity for producing or manufacturing medical grade PPEs, medications used in the palliative care for COVID-19 cases, and other critical medical supplies and equipment like ventilators. These are just some of the realities that the country is confronted with within the advent of the novel coronavirus. Despite such a challenging situation, the Philippines was able to ramp-up its health-care capacity. 

To date, the total beds capacity dedicated to COVID-19 patients has increased from 13,557 as of 27 May to 13,976 on 2 July – an increase of around 419 beds. The dedicated beds for COVID-19 cases in Local Isolation and General Treatment Areas for COVID-19 Cases (LIGTAS-COVID Centers) as of 2 July was 50,532. There has also been an increase in the bed capacities of the Mega LIGTAS COVID facilities located both, in the NCR and Region III (Bulacan) from 1,348 beds as of 27 May, to 3,193 on 2 July – an increase of around 1,845 beds.   

There was also an increase in the number of mechanical ventilators from 1,964 as of 27 May to a total of 2,000 mechanical ventilators – an increase of about 36 mechanical ventilators. The government was also able to stabilize the supply and demand for PPEs in the country. In terms of testing laboratory strengthening, as of 2 July, there are 74 licensed testing laboratories certified to conduct COVID-19 testing by the Department of Health (DOH). 

50 laboratories are using Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technology and 20 laboratories are using GeneXpert, with an additional 173 public and private laboratories under assessment. This is quite a significant increase compared to just a single laboratory in March.  

Likewise, the daily testing capacity of the country has also improved to 51,302 tests per day as of 19 June. As of 3 July, based on the Worldometer forecast, the actual number of total COVID-19 tests had reached 762,362, and the test per 1 million population was 6,957. This again is a huge improvement. But then again, the central challenge, which has not been overcome yet by the government is the maximization of the daily testing capacity – the number of actual daily tests that are conducted. 

As of 2 July, the total number of individuals tested daily was only 16,369, way below the country’s daily testing capacity. This is a persistent challenge for Health Secretary Francisco Duque of the DOH. Nonetheless, the government seems confident that it can assuage such a challenge with the recent arrival of one million polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test kits and 10 million test kits purchased by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the DOH. 

On the other hand, the contact tracer (CT) program of the government, which is critical in breaking the “chains of transmission” of the COVID-19 virus, is still weak. As of 18 of June, there were 54,042 CTs nationwide who are part of the 3,397 local “contact tracing teams” (CTTs), but only 21,341 are trained CTs. According to the WHO, the ideal contact tracer to population ratio is 1:800 to fully cover the over 109 million Filipinos. In effect, the country needs another 135,000 CTs. 

The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) as the lead agency of the government’s CT program, has proposed the hiring of around 50,000 CTs – as opposed to the estimated 82,537 CTs needed – to the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF). It is expecting approval on its proposal soon to commence the hiring process. Though such an initiative is late in coming, it is still a much needed and welcome initiative.  

Conclusion

While the Philippines is not yet in the same category of countries that have been remarkably successful in containing and eradicating the COVID-19 virus-like Vietnam and Thailand – the national response from the government has achieved relative success and is continuously being improved by the IAFT and policymakers. The national response of the Philippines against the novel coronavirus is a work in progress and is evolving. It is dependent on emerging realities on the ground and evolving knowledge about the virus. 

Comparing the Philippines to other countries in terms of COVID-19 case doubling times and case-fatality rates, and even in terms of success rates in the reduction of COVID-19 cases must be done with caution and utmost consideration of factors such as differences in healthcare system capacity, economic status, living conditions, population, and population density. These factors vary depending on the country. 

Likewise, national responses (i.e. quarantine and health-related measures) of countries to their respective COVID-19 outbreaks, to a considerable degree, varies depending on their respective contexts. The pandemic’s impact on each country differs in some ways. However, benchmarking on what works and what doesn’t is important. 

Hence, studying how other countries have managed and contained their outbreaks is immensely valuable, as the Philippines improves and re-adjusts its public health measures and strategies towards a more successful response to this global health crisis.   

The Philippine government is facing a difficult balancing act of having to save lives and restarting the country’s economy. It must also continue to build health capacity, further expand its testing, tracing, isolation, and treatment programs, while ramping-up its health advocacy on the importance of practicing social distancing, wearing face masks, washing hands, and reminding people to be healthy and to maintain good hygiene practices. 

All these measures are important to mitigate the spread of the virus, to reassure the public that new COVID-19 outbreaks like what is happening in Cebu City currently can be dealt with in an orderly fashion while minimizing economic disruptions. 

A short look back of Duterte admin💕 If this isn’t a legacy, I don’t know what this is.

Post from Tio Moreno

A short look back of Duterte admin💕 If this isn’t a legacy, I don’t know what this is.

#SONA2020

#WeRiseAsOne

#DutertePaRinSONA2020

#Duterte2020

Edits: Someone commented this on my twitter post “I mean, it's his job, nothing special.”

So, sino nagbubulag bulagan ngayon? These laws should’ve been signed by the previous admins because some of these are crafted by them. Imagine, tagal na ng Free Tuition Fee for SUCs, but Pnoy did not show care on it. He even vetoed the Magna Carta of the Poor because according to him it’s unrealistic and “mission impossible” 🙄 Why is the impossible becomes possible under Duterte admin? Answer is “political will and true service” — something that we haven’t seen on the “disente” leadership.

Quotes from President Rodrigo Duterte's State of the Nation Address 2020

The quotes were taken from Miss Krizette Laureta Chu page but the graphics are created by us Compiler Philippines

"Nananawagan po ako sa ating mga lessors, bayanihan po sana ang pairalin natin. This is not the time to drive away lessees. During normal times they were the source of your income. It's time for compassion. Wag natin silang ipagtabuyan. Commercial establishments are requested to allow grace periods. Let us help them recover."

"I enjoin banks to provide regulatory relief for SMEs, for loan relief for SMEs, without incurring charges. We need your help to prevent the collapse of companies saddled with amortization. As we embark on our effort of inclusive recovery...ito ang panahon para suportahan ang ating mga kababayan, na gumagawa ng produkto ng sariling atin. In the same manner, in the tourism industries, hardest hit, the LGUs must harmonize to boost tourism, ensuring everyone's wellbeing. We enjoin everyone to boost the economy by travelling locally. Once the necessary systems are in place."

"We must run after online scammers and those undermining people, we must protect the Filipino, and we must be responsible stewards of [digital]. I am committing to protect both physical and digital lives of our law abiding countrymen."

"Until the Covid-19 vaccine is available, I will not allow face to face teaching. I will not risk the lives of students and teachers." A few weeks ago, I said I will allow... but it is for January, thinking that we would have a vaccine in September. But acquiring it would be... challenging. Four days ago, I made a plea to President Xi Jinping, if they have the vaccine can we be the first to get it? So that we can normalize as fast as possible.

"TV frequencies will be reverted back to the government, and not to be used for dummies, to cope up with the demand, it will be used to give quality education to children as we shift.... Sec. Guevara, dela Pena, Honasan, and Briones, Domingues, to come up with an integrated program to make sure these TV frequencies, PTV 4, for the utmost benefit of the FIlipjno people. Allow me to be segue a little bit, for the remaining two years of the government, all that is good that belongs to the government, all the airways, they will belong to the government, and government should be given to first utilize it. Ang sobra, kanila. I call on comminication sevrices to improve their services or we will be forced to take on steps to address the service that the public is getting from you. Sometimes, we are pictured to be wea and incompetent, because we cannot impose our mandate. Wag nyo kami paantayin ng 10 taon to experience the services, that other countries experience. If it's just added capitalization, go and look for it. Maghanap kayo, if you are not ready to improve, I might just as well, close all of you. And revert back to the line telephone, at kukunin ko yan sa gobyerno. Itong Smart at itong Globe, ilang taon na ito. Kung ganon lang naman ibigay nyo sa amin, we are a republic sovereign country, because the patience of the Filipino people is reaching its limit, and I wll be the one to articulate the anger of the Filipino people, and you might not want what I'll do to you. Improve your services before December, I want to call Jesus Christ to Bethlehem, better have that line cleared."

"I have been a citizen of this country. for a long long time May pera kayo? use it. Wala kayong pera? Umalis kayo dito. You give us lousy service, and ang tao nagbabayad. Tell us now if you cannot improve on your service by December. I have two years, and the next two years will be spent improving the telecommunications of this country without you. I will find a way, I will talk to Congress and find a way."

"Martial Law in Mindanao ended without abuses by the civilian sector, without abuses by the police, without abuses by the military--because this time, I know, we know how to love our country."

"We will revive death penalty by lethal injection crimes under the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. This law will not only help us deter criminality, but also save our children from the dangers posed by the illegal and dangerous drugs.”

"Do not do it (drugs) in my country, or I will really kill you. That is a commitment."

"Covid-19 is not the last pandemic, we need to create a (paraphrasing) department for the national health agency, national disease prevention to better prepare for a pandemic. We need the full support of the Congress in this critical endeavor. I leave it to Congress to create another department.... but it may be a multilayer, redundant thing like the Department of Health."

"We must modernize the Bureau of Fire Protection and Bureau of Immigration. In Davao, one of the fire trucks we have in the city, we have our own aside from the Bureau of Fire, ang pangalan ng truck Studebaker. Matatag talaga ang katawan, ang makina Isuzu, Bureau of Fire na overlook ng matagal."

"I am requesting congress to pass the P66 billion agricultural program to help agricultural and fishery industries to recover. (Paraphrasing) A few good men---a few good regional directors dedicated workers down below, we can do Plant Plant Plant program, mas madali ito kesa build build build."

ON THE WPS ISSUES: "Plenty of critics--both sides---have claimed that we have done nothing on [China]. Unless we are prepared to go to war, we need diplomatic endeavors. China is claiming it, we are claiming it. China has the arms, we do not have it. It is simple of that. They are in possession of the property. It's akin to... property rights, so what can we do? We have to go to war, and I cannot afford it. Maybe some other President can, but I cannot. Inutil ako dyan, and I am willing to admit it. Inutil ako dyan. Wala akong magawa. The moment I sent my Marines there in Palawan, wala pa, hindi pa nga nakaka.... tinamaan agad ng cruise missiles. Sabog na."

ON HIS COVID-19 RESPONSE "I know we have many shortcomings in addressing Covid-19 challenges, I know that but we are trying our best, and I promise you that we in government will not stop until we are able to perfect the process. We will keep trying." (rephrasing.)

"This is the time to bring out the best of us. We will bend our back, but not our spirit. From the rubbles of adversity, we build a nation from bayanihan and pagkakaisa."

DRILLING DRILON... AND THE REAL OLIGARCHY "Id like to ask Drilon were you a part of ACCRA Law when this contract with Ayala for water...? And why are you fumigating--bakit ikaw lang ang galit--dynasty dynasty. You are a hypocrite, you cannot pass an anti-Dynasty law, ikaw ang nandyan sa Congress,, ikaw mauna dito. To take it against me, for protecting my country, is something I really resent. You describe using the dictionary, synonym, and then you proceeded to characterize every one, and you say, oligarchy is not bad at all because not all oligarchies are bad. True, but to my countrymen but the oligarchy that exists in this country is the oligarchy that existed in Spanish times, and the lands, benefits to pass on on the insulares, who did not go back. "This is the oligarchy that controls the Philippines by taking control of the water and electricity by power. YAN ANG OLIGARCHY MO, DRILON. How can you not... in I insist that you pay the billions of billions you collected. In 1997, ilang bilyon, pero wala ni isa, not even a faucet was built for a water treatment facility. Yan nag mahirap sayo, you protect the oligarchy, and I suspect you helped, when you were in ACCRA. Ang mga abogado sa public documents, naka graduate ba o hindi. Would you think Ayala would get their services? Ayala got ACCRA, ACCRA did it. Ikaw galing ka doon. "