Here are some facts. The Philippines with a population of approximately 110 million has a per-capita gross domestic product (at purchasing power parity) of $9,000. Currently, the Department of Health reports some 12,000 total confirmed cases of Covid-19, with approximately 9,000 active, (confirmed cases neither died nor recovered) and over 800 deaths.
In the past two months there has been a constant stream of two narratives: “Duterte administration policies are killing people” and “Duterte administration policies are killing the economy.” The people have an absolute right and duty to challenge and criticize the government.
It is interesting though that many people are holding Vietnam up as a model for what the Philippines should have done. Also interesting is that Nguyen Nang Tinh, a 43-year-old music teacher, has had his 11-year prison sentence confirmed by the Vietnam Appeals court for “making and spreading anti-state information and materials” in a one-day trial “for criticizing the government on Facebook.” Facebook’s local servers in Vietnam were then taken offline until the company agreed to censor “anti-state” posts.
No one has discovered if Mr. Nguyen’s crime was disputing the government’s Covid-19 statistics.
Nonetheless, we should probably give every government the benefit of the doubt as to the honesty and accuracy of the Covid-19 numbers. We have no choice because there is no way to independently verify the statistics.
However, it would do well to look at other nations. Chile has a population of 19 million and a GDP per capita of $10,000, nearly the same as the Philippines. That government has reported over 18,000 cases—5,200 reported on Wednesday and Thursday last week. There have been about 450 deaths. With a population much smaller than the Philippines, Chile has a much higher per capita number of cases and deaths.
Mexico’s population is 126 million, but it has a per capita GDP of $20,000. Yet Mexico has recorded 5,000 deaths with 47,000 confirmed cases. Perhaps at the other end of the spectrum is Bangladesh with 164 million people and a per capita GDP of only $4,370. Yet this nation has 21,000 cases with a little over 300 fatalities. Maybe you are safer from Covid-19 in “poor” Bangladesh than in “rich” Mexico.
Japan’s population is also 126 million and is one of the richest nations on Earth with GDP at $43,000. Its Covid-19 fatalities—even with an elderly population—is 730 with 16,000 cases. Ukraine has a relatively small population of 42 million and a GDP slightly lower than Philippines at $9,300. But with 18,000 cases, its number of dead is less than 500.
These conclusions can be made. The first is that all these nations have obviously implemented different policies to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic. Wealth and population size are also different. But most strikingly is the fact that it would be impossible to determine the number of cases and deaths by simply looking at the population and wealth numbers. You could plug in health-care facilities and standards, which are critically important. Population density of the urban areas is also a factor. But where is the common thread of success or failure?
Now, with some easing of the lockdown, “government policy” has shifted to “personal policy.” Going out without a face mask, not observing social distancing protocol, and coming home infected with Covid-19 is no longer the “government’s fault.” Personal choices will in large part determine the future of the health and economic well-being of the Philippines. Take responsibility for your life and the life of others.
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