Picture this: In less than three weeks, a big chunk of the population will be restless staying at home, and the general sense of helplessness will start to kick in. Assuming the government will be able to provide the basic needs like food, water, and medicines for everybody, there will still be that overwhelming sense of fear and apprehension. Now, think about a scenario where the government is unable to sustain the food and medicine rations. Or, at least, unable to reach out to everybody within their area of responsibility. Is it difficult to foresee a scenario where desperate folks would go out of their way to find food and other resources for their family? Think Jean Valjean from Les Miserable. If it were you in his shoes, would you also steal a loaf of bread to feed your hungry children?
The expanded community quarantine is a necessary step in preventing the further spread of COVID-19. People are starting to understand this and are so far complying with the restrictions imposed by the government. But we also have to understand that the quarantine is a ticking time bomb. If the flow of basic resources begins to slow down or stop, would we be able to manage the peace and order issues that would likely erupt?
This is by far the biggest challenge that the whole world has yet to face. And understandably, governments are still struggling to respond to the situation. All the focus and attention are on treating those infected, finding a cure, preventing the further spread of the disease, and attending to the needs of those in quarantine. Wealthier and more organized nations are as much at a loss as poorer and less developed countries.
Those countries that will be able to rise above this crisis will be lauded and be put on the pedestal with their leaders getting much of the accolade. And there will be much to gain if this were to happen to the Philippines. While not all in the country are rooting for the administration to be among those that stand out on the global stage in terms of effective crisis leadership, everyone is silently hoping that our government will at least able to lead us out of these dark times.
We have to understand, though, that for this to happen, we need to work with the government. It will take the combined effort from all of us to get through this. And while we are starting to get used to our new normal, we need to start thinking ahead and anticipating the risks that may develop as an effect of this expanded quarantine.
We are not yet at that point where desperation will take over and get the better of us. But why wait until it’s too late to start thinking about it and consequently set-up measures to prevent it?
Article Image from Philippine News Agency (PNA) by Joey O. Razon
