1. On prioritizing proper nutrition and healthcare support in response to COVID-19.
Countries that successfully mitigated the spread of the virus and reduced the number of affected
people have immediately acquired medical equipment and Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs),
supported health workers, constructed medical facilities or temporary facilities for quarantine and
containment of the virus, conducted free rapid mass testing, initiated proactive contact-tracing and
integrated disease surveillance system, facilitated epidemiological investigation, and pooled in public
resources to ensure that healthcare services and medical response mechanisms are in place and
made available to vulnerable communities. Free and sufficient public healthcare service remains to be
the most humane, viable, and long-term solution in pandemic situations.

Philippines has a high mortality rate for viruses since majority of the population are malnourished,
impoverished, and have limited access to basic healthcare services. This speaks volume of how
much of the public resources are being invested on the most basic needs of the people. Sadly, it took
a pandemic to happen to immensely demand for urgent prioritization on our public healthcare system.
Investment on medical provisions, public healthcare facilities, science and technology that are visible
on the ground and recognized by frontline health workers is key to gain public trust and cooperation.
Public insecurity stems from the shift of focus from the issue on the access to health aid to the
enforced social distancing as a preventive measure. Social distancing is one of the many forms that
may slowdown the spread of virus, however, this should never downplay the need for a concrete
investment on health response systems for COVID-19. The enforced social distancing without proper
education and due consideration for basic socio-economic rights of the marginalized sector will put
the population at risk on an array of health issues including psychosocial. Duty-bearers should inform
the public about health and nutritional response measures other than hygiene and social distancing.

The public demands a nationwide preparation rather than ad hoc reactions to the outbreak.
Because of the lockdown majority of vulnerable sectors are now deprived of economic activity which
is their main source of livelihood. This has serious implications on people’s nutrition. Marginalized
groups will have no food on their tables thus will eventually weaken their immune system.
Additional personnel are needed to deliver services to affected communities at the shortest possible
time. For the long term, government should invest on health response systems not only for COVID-19
but for other infectious diseases. It should build additional health facilities, strengthen primary health
care as a form of disease prevention and increase the pay of health workers to maintain continuity of
quality service.

2.On the participation of the Civil Society Organizations in COVID-19 Response.
CSOs will hold a collaborative and vital role in the COVID-19 Response. The involvement of Civil
Society Sector (NGOs, faith-based organizations, academe, foundations, charitable organizations) in
any disaster response goes beyond the provision of relief. Now, more than ever, CSO mobilization will
be strategic, beneficial, and holistic as it pools in all the technical experts, networks of communitybased organizations, humanitarian and development workers to come up with a unified, speedy, and
grounded solutions. For decades, CSOs have been closely working with local government units and
communities to identify risks, produce contextualized response plans and programs, and implement
appropriate response measures for communities.

We urge the government to include the civil society sector in the Inter-Agency Task Force for
Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) COVID-19 and in local government unit response platforms.
NDRRMC’s Action Plan for COVID-19 included CSOs as part of the response cluster, however, the
CSO participation should not be limited to resource generation. Enshrined in the constitution, the state shall encourage the participation of civil society groups at all levels of social, political, economic
decision-making and shall establish adequate consultation meeting.

With the deep and far-reaching socio-economic impact of the Enhanced Community Quarantine on
marginalized groups, the government should welcome the inclusion of CSOs in the response and
thereby adopt a multi-stakeholder approach and whole of society response mechanisms.
By virtue of the Executive Order No. 168, series of 2014, Section 1, the Emerging Infectious Diseases
Task Force should call upon any department, bureau, office, agency or instrumentality of the
government, including Government-Owned or –Controlled Corporations (GOCCs), government
financial institutions (GFIs), local government units (LGUs), non-government organizations (NGOs)
and the private sector for assistance as the circumstances and exigencies may require.
Moreover, Section 7 of the RA 11332, otherwise known as Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable
Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act, provides that the President should
mobilize governmental and NGOs to respond to the threat.

For public transparency and accountability, IATF-EID composition must include CSOs who should be
a part of decision-making processes, especially on issuing resolutions for COVID-19 response. This
will ensure that basic concerns on social welfare are voiced out and accounted for. It is also
necessary to present a comprehensive and grounded implementing rules and guidelines for
resolutions with due precaution on curtailing basic civil rights before it is passed. This is to avoid
confusion and negligence within and across agencies, LGUs, and the public.

3. On the Declaration of the Nationwide State of Calamity (SoC) due to COVID-19.
This is an opportune time to practice the RA10121 or the National DRRM Law of 2010 which was
crafted through the collective efforts of the government and civil society organizations. The
declaration of a State of Calamity is necessary for LGUs to use their Quick Response Fund and
access the national DRRM Fund or Calamity Fund for COVID-19 response, most especially if the
COVID-19 national budget is deemed insufficient.

The use of the Calamity Fund nationwide for COVID-19 will be challenging since the budget was
reduced from Php 20 B in 2019 to Php 16 B in 2020. A portion of the fund was already appropriated
for the Taal Volcano Eruption Response. Considering this challenge, NDRRMC and LDRRMCs must
present a budget utilization plan for the QRF and the Calamity Fund for the relief, recovery, and
recovery programs relating to COVID-19.

The involvement and role of CSOs in the COVID-19 response were not specified in Proclamation No.
929, or Declaration of the Nationwide State of Calamity due to COVID-19. This is inconsistent with
Section 2(d) of Republic Act No. 10121 which states that:

shall be the policy of the State to adopt a disaster risk reduction and management
approach that is holistic, comprehensive, integrated, and proactive in lessening the
socioeconomic and environmental impacts of disasters, including climate change, and
promote the involvement and participation of all sectors and all stakeholders concerned, at
all levels, especially the local community

Given the enormous task on hand we strongly suggest the mobilization of trained members of the
CSO community involved in DRRM. They are committed in strengthening their capacities to respond
to disaster situations.

4. On the LGUs and DRRM Officers as frontliners.

The NDRRMC should support LGUs in implementing RA 10121 for COVID-19 response. Local
DRRMOs are considered as frontliners in disaster response so they are expected to lead on the
ground for the containment of COVID-19 in their respective area of jurisdiction. Armed with knowledge
and experience on Disaster Prevention and Mitigation and Community-based Disaster Risk Reduction
and Management, local DRRM units (province, municipal, city, barangay) should be in-charge of any
form of COVID-19 containment measures during the enhanced community quarantine, including
monitoring the entry and exit points in their AOR. Now that LGUs have access to Quick Response
Fund and Calamity Fund, they can acquire PPEs for themselves and boost their efforts for COVID-19
response in their community. After all, it is the primary responsibility of local government units to
manage epidemic investigation and response.

DRRM offices and LGUs have existing contextualized plans and mechanisms. They can easily
identify the most vulnerable groups who need medical attention. They are also mandated to
collaborate with local community organizations and local businesses to ensure access to basic
humanitarian support in the community, especially in times of crisis. Since LDRRMOs and LGUs are
recognized by their constituents, they can effectively communicate information on COVID-19 which is
key to facilitate community cooperation.

LGU self-sufficiency may be challenged in the coming weeks. The one-month enhanced community
quarantine would heavily disrupt the livelihood of communities. It is therefore essential that the
national government equip LGUs with sustainable socio-economic plans and adequate financial
support upon issuing directives on the enhanced community quarantine.

Some Metro Manila LGUs have been demonstrating practical and relevant solutions for COVID-19
prevention and response. However, disproportionate implementing capacities (funds, manpower,
knowledge and technology) of different LGUs in Luzon are apparent during the Enhanced Community
Quarantine. The national government should issue minimum SOPs for prevention, containment, and
response for COVID-19 to guide LGUs and encourage uniformed initiatives.

5. On DSWD’s suspension of programs (such as pension, feeding, cash transfer programs) for
indigents.

It is unfortunate that DWSD decided to suspend social programs for indigents to prevent beneficiary
gatherings when claiming the assistance during the Enhanced Community Quarantine. We urge the
state’s social welfare agency to reconsider this decision and improvise a mechanism or system of
distribution of financial and other forms of assistance appropriate for this critical situation. This is the
time when the marginalized groups are most vulnerable and in need of social programs.
The IATF-EID technical working group has yet to create social amelioration package for affected
workers and communities. For the meantime, the government must encourage the participation of civil
society groups in delivering aid to ensure that the most affected communities are reached during the
quarantine. The Enhanced Community Quarantine has restricted mobility of citizens and resulted to
insufficient income and supply of basic necessities brought about by massive hoarding.

6. On the humanitarian aid for the most marginalized.
With due LGU coordination, humanitarian organizations and civil society groups should be granted
access to marginalized communities with least access to basic humanitarian needs. We urge the
government to ensure unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid from the civil society sector to
vulnerable communities during the enhanced community quarantine.

7. On social cohesion over social distancing.
It is through humanity and social empathy that community spirit is kept alive. Our care for the most
vulnerable allows us to see less of ourselves and more of what needs to be done in our community.
Our care for the most vulnerable allows us to see what is fair and uphold what is right. It is through
community spirit that we are able withstand uncertainties.