Human Rights Online Philippines

The shockwaves caused by the pandemic on our economy and political life indicates that we will come out as COVID-19 refugees and with each of us nursing an aftershock.

The media failed to offer a focused reportage on the elements of shock that hit the government and the people. Hence, it tends to appear that the Duterte government is not suffering from acute distress. The evidence, however, is blindingly obvious – the system is struggling, and the situation demands a decisive leader and one who understands the politics of pandemics.

Acquiring an understanding of the nature of shocks and the potential aftershocks as a result of the outbreak has become essential for us. Shocks are distributed across time and space and its impact will certainly trickle down either gradually or immediately upon the expiration of the Enhanced Community Quarantine.

Crisis specialists describes the shock that we are undergoing today as both covariant and idiosyncratic. “Covariant” is a type of shock that affects entire communities, regions, and even countries. On the other hand, “idiosyncratic” is a type of shock that affects the individual (us) or members of the household. We are equally experiencing these types of shock as a nation (macro level) and as citizens (micro level).

The effects of an ongoing shock comes in the form of self-quarantine, work from home, tough regulation on mobility like curfew, and ban on travel, among others. But we are confronting multiple aftershocks at the idiosyncratic level because of the shock caused by the pandemic at the covariant level.

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