#MINDANAO
With global COVID-19 cases continuing to increase, the realization is that this pandemic will remain with us for a long time.
The resurgence of infections in countries deemed success stories means no country may claim to be able to fully eradicate it soon. Vigilance will need to remain, and aggressive efforts are being called for in many areas.
Thus, the battle against COVID-19 is far from over. We need to look at all of these realities with a thoughtful, critical eye – and lots of hope.
The good news is that more recoveries are expected, and that our knowledge and efforts in dealing with the health and economic effects it is also evolving, building experiences we can learn from as we move forward.
Some areas in the country are now adopting targeted quarantine measures, increased testing capacities and isolation centers to control the spread where it is needed while allowing the rest of the community to move forward with essential economic activities.
Many local entrepreneurs, especially those that have begun recovering slightly with the easing of restrictions, are grappling with this new reality, making business adjustments, finding new ways of doing business so that the enterprise and the jobs borne out of it, will survive.
What will help is our decision to support local businesses by buying their products. These purchases and exchanges strengthen the local economy and can them adapt and diversify. They, and we, will emerge stronger.
Striking the ‘healthy balance’
Seeing the experience in many countries around the world and its resulting economic impacts, it is clear that a healthy balance of measures that protect health and, at the same time, strengthen local economies will enable our survival in the long term under the new normal.
In view of these, the realistic long-term view posited by a growing number point to the need to live with the reality of disruption, and strike a balance between protecting health through vigilant measures and sustaining the economy by allowing certain economic activities to proceed. The presentations of the government's economic team in the pre SONA activity last week point to this as it detailed many of the measures to address the economic effects of the pandemic.
Already, we are seeing some slight recovery in the important job-generating manufacturing sector, with the slower declines in merchandise trade and merchandise exports in recent months. (https://mb.com.ph/2020/07/10/nedas-assessment-ecqs-impact-deeper-than-expected/)
Achieving this balance will also enable us to deal not only with the current pandemic, but other new disruptions that will definitely come our way.
Moving forward and facing even more possible disruptions, it must be said that a strong society against these is a cohesive one where a high level of support and cooperation among sectors is formidable. Rising together is an imperative that builds even more strength to face even greater challenges. “Yes, we can!” will remain our battlecry.
What accounts for the variance in the number of cases?
Some readers have asked me why COVID-19 case growth in many areas is much less than that of Luzon, patricularly the NCR and the surrounding areas, and Cebu.
This variation across areas is definitely worth a good look. There can be a wide array of factors, of course. The results of this examination will go a long way to further refine protocols to deal with similar disruptions in the future.
Stay safe everyone!
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