COVID PANDEMIC IN THE PHILIPPINES
The Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), a newly discovered strain of the coronavirus is an
infectious disease which targets the respiratory system of its host is the main problem
that the world is currently facing right now. Geriatric patients as well as those with
underlying medical conditions like cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes are more
likely to develop serious illness. The Covid-19 virus spreads through saliva droplets, nose
discharges from an infected individual.
Earlier this year, the Philippines recorded 7 new cases reported as per the Department
of Health. The government activated the Inter Agency Task Force consisting of key
government agencies to combat the disease. The DOH and World Health Organization
regularly updates and sends messages regarding Covid-19 to maintain and build public
trust and confidence. DOH has also established surveillance systems to look for cases at
the municipal, city, provincial and regional levels to conduct investigations, contact
tracings and collection of key information.
Up to this day, the government efforts has focused on accumulating provisions needed
to combat the virus like protective equipment, surgical masks and ventilators. Our country
lacks these as well as health workers. These health professionals are temporarily banned
from leaving the country until the Covid crisis ends. This need has become dire as the
disease depletes local hospital staff. The government’s overall response to this pandemic
has been burdened with incompetence and terror. The implementation of the Enhanced
Community Quarantine resulted to problems without addressing the primary concern
which is ensuring public health and safety. The global crisis is first and foremost a public
health concern, but President Rodrigo Duterte faced the pandemic with a militaristic
fashion because a lot of Filipinos are known to be “pasaways” deploying policemen and
soldiers in the entire country. He also declared the country in a “State of Public
Emergency” when the country’s Covid patients reached 100. According to the Department
of Finance, the country has 4.83 billion dollars in loans, 7.76 billion dollars total loans,
grants, assistance for Covid-19 response but statistics tells that only 1% of the country’s
total population was tested. The Philippines has the longest lockdown in the world, the
highest mortality rate and the second in Covid-19 cases in Southeast Asia. In the
immediate aftermath of the lockdown, Filipinos especially the poor were troubled by
contending with hunger with no available sources of income and others, homeless. At
present, the Philippines has 100 thousand cases recorded and still counting.
The whole world is looking forward to return to some likeness of normalcy. At this time,
there are no specific treatment or vaccines for Covid-19. However, there are ongoing
clinical tests and trials for the evaluation of potential treatments.
LAW SCHOOL ONLINE CLASS
The Coronavirus disease, which is the most crucial global health calamity and the
greatest challenge that the world is facing today is posing enormous health, economic
and social challenges to the entire human population. Its outbreak is severely disrupting
the global economy with projects delayed, workplaces closed and schools shut down.
One of those greatly affected by this pandemic is the education sector, however, students
continue theirs through online learning and via video calls with their professors. This has
changed dramatically with the rise of e-learning whereby teaching is undertaken remotely
on digital platforms. This is the best alternative for the safety of the students.
Online learning has been around the world for a while now. Many countries have adopted
this approach. However, many appealing concerns regarding law online classes is the
student’s flexibility. Most online classes leave a lot of freedom for students to create their
own schedule because they don’t have to be present online at any specific time provided
that the professor is not that strict in checking the attendance. Another advantage of
online classes is not having to commute to campus particularly for those students who
are working. Although the closing of schools has a silver lining, the true sufferers of the
school closings are those students who are less fortunate and students who are in lessfunded schools. We also know that the Philippines ranked 101st on the average internet
speed. This will be a hindrance for some students who doesn’t have strong internet
connection in complying with school requirements and most especially during class
discussions and recitations. Although internet service providers have been giving out free
data packages, they are simply not capable of supporting video calls on programs such
as Zoom. This leaves many students in a bad spot where they are unable to receive an
education. The quick turn to platforms like Zoom is disrupting curricula, particularly for
professors less equipped to navigate the internet and the particularities of managing a
classroom mediated by a screen and microphone.
The intention of the education sector is to continuously extend quality education to
learners in the country by employing “blended learning” despite the obvious threat of
COVID-19 is not only understandable but commendable. Every law school uses different
platform to host their online courses and some are easier to navigate than others.
Moreover, while there are learners who will be motivated and adapt to “blended learning”
fast, there will also be learners who will not be as interested and enthusiastic. Others may
also experience difficulty in transitioning from “face to face” learning to “blended learning.”
It is important that students are comfortable using technology as well as the professors
and has given some trainings on how to use the said platform. I think online law school
classes is a creative way and an excellent addition to the traditional face to face classes.
JUSTICE LEONEN’S SPEECH DURING THE OATH-TAKING OF THE SUCCESSFUL
2019 BAR EXAMINEES
Last June 25, 2020, a historic first for the legal profession is the online oath-taking of new
lawyers where Supreme Court Associate Justice Marvic Leonen delivered a powerful
speech which highlighted on the lawyer’s duty which must be performed in the society
and the role of technology in fulfilling that responsibility during this trying time of pandemic.
In his wide-ranged speech, Justice Leonen firstly congratulated Justice Estela PerlasBernabe, last year’s Bar Chair for her exemplary performance. He also talked about the
regionalization of the Bar examinations and the plans of the Supreme Court to let the Bar
examinations be computerized. Justice Leonen tells the new lawyers that they will be
defined by the challengers that they face and how to respond to those challenges. He
added that the COVID-19 pandemic is certainly not the last that humanity will have to
endure, with dangers brought by climate change threatening the globe. He stressed on
several topics including the dangers that that could undermine democracy where internet
users surrender their privacy and information to big commercial institutions. He also
reminded the new lawyers of the rise of “conservative populism” and told them the
challenges of every individual or an institution that gathers and speak truth to power. He
cited the cases of journalists who suffer from seeking to verify and validate the truth. He
also shared his favorite one liner which is – “the line of fire is always a place of honor” an
urged the new lawyers to protect those who have less in life, to speak against corruption
and for those who holds public office to discharge its responsibilities for the public trust.
My favorite line of his speech would be – "As a lawyer, resist injustice. Make it your
passion to resist injustice. Strive for excellence, not only in order to get you more titles,
not to land yourself in Top 10 lists of lawyers, strive for excellence, because you need
excellence with honor to enable and empower the weak, the poor, the marginalized and
the oppressed.” The magistrate’s speech was “life-changing” and inspiring citing the
people's struggle of living in a society where there is poverty, extreme inequality, and
social injustice, he emphasized to the bar passers and all lawyers their essential role in
society and told them that when they took oath to the rule of law, they were empowered
to bring about change, and a “promise to empower.”
A lot of us may be having this feeling of hopelessness because of the lucid incompetence
of this government but Justice Leonen’s speech is a breath of fresh air against injustice,
oppression, corruption and amidst a crisis.
STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS 2020
President Rodrigo Duterte delivered his fifth State of the Nation Address last July 27,
2020 during this trying time of a pandemic. The President’s second to the last SONA was
delivered to a limited audience with the attendees observing physical distancing in the
venue. This year’s SONA was among the longest so far mentioning 21 priority bills that
he wanted to tackle in his remaining years as president.
In his speech, he stresses on the current situation of the country under the coronavirus
pandemic telling the people that we are living in a troubled time. He thanks the frontliners
who are risking their lives to those who are mostly affected by the disease and hopes for
a vaccine. He provided hope to the falling optimism of the Filipino people during this
pandemic. His style of leadership communicates with the masses. He sidelined his
speech and criticized the Lopezes who are owners of ABS-CBN calling them “oligarchs”
claiming that he was a victim by them during the 2016 Presidential election. He also
slammed Senator Franklin Drilon, an opposition senator who is one of the defenders of
ABS-CBN and also the one who says that political dynasties must me banned. He also
slams Senator Drilon and accused him of being among the framers of the 1997 water
concessionaires agreement with the government to which was denied by Drilon. Duterte
tells the people that the country is in a better position to weather the crisis of the Covid19 pandemic. He also pushes for more infrastructure projects under the Build Build Build
Program. The President also vowed to uphold human rights and threatened to kill drug
users which he linked to the government’s drug war. Duterte admits that there are lapses
in the pandemic response which covers the distribution of emergency aid during the
lockdown. He calls the Congress to immediately pass the Bayanihan to Recover as One
Act to provide funds for those small businesses to aid displaced workers and poor
families. For the education sector, he reiterates that there will be no face-to-face classes
until the Covid-19 becomes available. He also calls for the bringing back of the death
penalty by lethal injection.
Despite his strong political will and charisma, there is much more could have been said
and articulated on how the nation plans to recover and build better in the next or new
normal. More so, a more objective look and a concrete plan is needed to mitigate the
Covid-19 pandemic. The government needs the help of the private sector in helping them
strategize their plans and projects. In these trying times, the existing conditions of
inequality has been transformed into greater risks because of the weakness of our
healthcare system making the poor more vulnerable. This pandemic is a great revealer
as we witness the incapacities of the government in dealing with such things. Lastly, the
President should have tackled on better governance instead of expressing his rants
during his speech.