Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 19) — A political analyst says the government must take charge in managing the country’s COVID-19 crisis, adding it must act to serve the people’s best interest.
Speaking to CNN Philippines Sunday, analyst Dindo Manhit said, “We see the bureaucratic challenge at times of dealing with the pandemic. So, you have to value that at the end of the day, the government is challenged by the magnitude of the problem, but we need the government to really realize that we need more transparency in their actions. We need government to be responsive also to the needs of the people.”
Manhit specifically mentioned the Bayanihan to Heal As One Act as a particularly good intervention aimed at helping Filipinos, as well as efforts from the private sector to boost relief support.
Manhit also said keeping the population healthy was a way to ensure a healthy economy, adding “healthy citizens become productive citizens.”
“We need our economy in this new normal to adjust itself given the capacity and productivity of the Filipino people and we can assess that if we have healthy people, if we are not threatened by possible spread of this virus. If we don’t have initiatives to stop the spread of this virus,” he said.
Identifying groups which could “be a source of more patients” would also be a good move, Manhit said, adding a more strategic track would be beneficial as well.
Manhit added, “We need government to really see things beyond what is in front of them. Because how do we deal with the realities of this global pandemic? How does it affect our local economy? How does it protect the jobs and livelihood of our people—which is very key at this moment. Poverty can only be addressed if people are employed. If they don’t lose jobs at this time. We need to keep, to protect our small and medium enterprises. Maybe create incentives to keep them alive through these challenges.”
