In Public Health
The Enhanced Community Quarantine is the best solution that we have at hand since COVID-19 has a rough mode of transmission which is through droplets and contact routes.
ECQ limits the movement of people which in any way protects the public health by avoiding the spread of the virus to the public and the possible increase of COVID-19 positive cases. It also makes a way for those who possibly got infected with the virus to prevent infecting others and to do social distancing.
While the ECQ was to prevent the spread of the virus, other matters concerning public health go at risk. There are a lot of people who have illnesses and they are not able to buy the medicines that they need to take either due to financial incapacity or the difficulty of going out. People who are sick especially those who are having continuous medications to hospitals which are out of the town or province are also having a hard time due to the strict guidelines and checkpoints of the authority.
_________________________________________________
In Social Life
The one that most of the people had a hard time agreeing with is the whole time that they won’t be able to socialize and meet up with other people. The COVID-19 pandemic and the implementation of ECQ have ruined/delayed the important events of many individuals especially the students who were supposed to receive their diplomas.
But through the ECQ, people in our community are giving their best to be responsible and are still able to show the spirit of camaraderie which inspires and gives strength and hope to us all. Despite the threat of the virus, people from various sectors offers any help that they have either in big or small way. In these hard times and even under quarantine, people are still connected in many possible ways without endangering anyone.
_________________________________________________
In Politics
The positive effects that the ECQ has brought into the local community with respect to political field includes the manifestation of the true system of governance that we have may it be in the local or national sector. The health issue that urged the implementation of ECQ has showed the competency and accuracy that the elected officials have in responding the needs of the citizens and this gradually opened the minds of the youth in involving themselves to political matters.
The negative effects correlate with the mentioned positive one and this happens when the political opinion and perspectives of the people does not meet at one point which turns our community even more divided. Another is the unfairness that occurs within the decisions of the officials and not considering the needs of the less fortunate people.
_________________________________________________
In Economy
The only positive effect of ECQ to the economy that I know is that we are at least helping it not falling too low by acquiring our necessities to our local stores and products that are manufactured in our country. In its negative effects, it slows down the economy of our country because of the closed businesses and halted jobs and we will again have a hard time catching up for it. Aside from that, there have been a lot of suspended events and cancelled travels of the tourists who were supposed to be visiting our country/province during the quarantine period.
_________________________________________________
In Culture
In cultural aspect, the ECQ still got positive effects in this matter because it creates a chance for the family members to perform the simple cultural practices that occur at home. Most of the youth are utilizing their time well by engaging themselves in cooking Ilocano cuisines and other stuff. Moreover, due to the restricted/cancelled social gatherings and celebrations, ECQ allows people to adapt to a new culture involving the utilization of high technology.
Its negative effects will lay on the traditions that we do and celebrate that are cancelled or postponed like the graduation/moving up ceremonies of the graduates wherein after the main event comes the buffet and night long party. Even our religious practices were affected in the celebration of holy week. In addition, our simplest practices that make our culture light – how we show off our politeness to our friends or neighbors in the form of “beso-beso” or pat in the shoulder are some of the things that are being changed in a simple smile and wave of a hand.
Public Safety or Economy?
We know that the Philippines is still a developing country; therefore, our economy is important. In this time of pandemic, I think the government shall still prioritize public safety over economy. Yes, we need the economy but prioritizing it would put all the citizens at a greater danger that in time would make the government more incapable of handling.
When economy is prioritized, workers would go back to their works and they will receive a salary/wage to sustain their lives. Trading will continue and money will move in our country. But choosing this over public safety is endangering our whole country as well. By prioritizing public safety, the government shall first focus on providing the people their needs while it also immerses its resources and people in containing the virus in our country because as long as the positive cases continuously arises, we are unsure of many more could be involved when we disregard public safety.
To address the negative effects, some programs or policies must be created/amended in order to make our country prepared in this kind of times that we are all uncertain when to come. Programs supporting health or medications should be implemented. The pandemic shows how we lack health care facilities and equipments. There shall also be a law preparing and guiding the country in times of pandemic. This health issue reveals how we ignore the services of medical practitioners especially the nurses. May be the government should work on increasing their salaries even with the janitors, drivers, and other workers. In relation with this, the government should already work on the bill ending the contractualization for the workers to receive benefits and have a stable job.
Lastly, the government should work on opening job vacancies for individuals who do not have high educational attainment to be able to lower down our unemployment rate which might also help their families to have savings for emergency purposes just like facing pandemic.
_________________________________________________
Thank you so much for reading my article!
May God bless you a thousand folds :)
the philippines was never ready for the pandemic. we go round and round.