‘We’re all affected’: Celebs lament gov’t response on coronavirus crisis, call for unity among Filipinos

President Rodrigo Duterte at the press conference where he declared a “State of Public Health Emergency” amid the coronavirus outbreak. Image: screengrab via Facebook/@pcoogov

After confirmed cases of COVID-19 spiked in the past week, Filipinos have been looking to authorities for information and action.

However, President Rodrigo Duterte’s press conference on Monday, March 9, when he declared a “State of Public Health Emergency”, has been described by analysts as less than “reassuring.”

For instance, the number of testing kits available in the country has come under fire: according to the Research Institute on Tropical Medicine (RITM), there are only about 2,000 kits. The Department of Health (DOH) said the lack of testing supplies could have led to “unintentional underreporting.”

When asked about the testing kits, the head of state rambled about historical pandemics from the Bubonic Plague to the Spanish Flu.

Talent manager Ogie Diaz was among those disappointed with the president’s address. Sharing on Facebook some of Duterte’s transcribed responses, he said, “Nakalulungkot talaga ang [COVID-19] scare. Mas nakalulungkot nga lang ito. Walang ibang pwedeng asahan kungdi mga sarili din natin.”

(The COVID-19 scare is depressing. This is even more depressing. We do not have anyone to rely on except ourselves.)

‘We are all affected’

Bullet Dumas. Image: INQUIRER.net/Jester Burgos

Folk singer-songwriter Bullet lamented today on Twitter the way the coronavirus crisis was being handled given its impact on the country, especially to the economy.

Hanep 'to. We are all affected.

Canceled work, events, school, etc.
Walang pera mga tao. Walang consumers. Lagut ang businesses and corporations. Walang kita.
Lagut lahat.

Downplay pa more. Di maayos ang pagkahandle.
Hirap maging 3rd world!

Someone help us.
Coz Duterte won't.

— Bullet Dumas (@bulletdumas) March 12, 2020

“We are all affected. Canceled work, events, school, etc.,” he noted, stating that people and businesses will lose money.

“Downplay pa more. Di maayos ang pagkahandle. Hirap maging 3rd world!” (Keep downplaying it. This is mishandled. It is so hard being a third world [country]!)

“Someone help us. Coz Duterte won’t,” he stated.

On a more positive note, he advised the public not to panic, to wash their hands and isolate themselves, and added, “Let’s watch out for each other. Be considerate.”

‘Celebs needed to hold gov’t accountable’

When a Twitter user called for celebrities to pool their resources to raise funds for test kits, actor Juan Miguel Severo argued that the government should be pressured into taking action by celebrities instead.

One @blckpnkrev tagged Angel Locsin, Vice Ganda, Anne Curtis and Severo in a post proposing that celebs make efforts to fund test kits “instead of waiting for [gov’t] funds.”

Juan Miguel Severo. Image: Nukie Timtiman

Severo pointed out that celebrities already do charity work and pay a huge amount of taxes: “The government already has their money tapos magbibigay pa sila uli para sa DAPAT na ginagawa ng gobyerno gamit ang pera nila?”

(The government already has its funds. Yet celebrities should still give for what the government should actually be doing with its own funds?)

“If anything we need more celebs to hold this government accountable,” he said.

https://twitter.com/TheRainBro/status/1237671407921713153

The Twitter user reasoned, “[N]ot saying it’s their responsibility. [A]lso not saying that the celebs should fund it themselves, just maybe organize fundraisers. [M]y concern comes from the pace of decision making of our [gov’t] officials and institutions.”

‘Wala munang DDS at Dilawan’

Ogie Diaz. Image: Facebook/Ogie Diaz

Diaz has some measures in mind that the government could consider in softening the impact of the virus on Filipinos and the economy, which he stated via Facebook today.

He suggested giving a tax holiday of at least three months to allow time for the economy to recover. He also proposed a rent holiday in establishments. He stressed, “Lahat apektado! Walang kostumer!” (Everyone is affected! There are no customers!)

Diaz called for unity among political spectrums as well: “Wala munang DDS at Dilawan. Ipahinga nyo yan.” (There should be no [Duterte Diehard Supporters] and Yellows for now. Put that to rest.)

There are currently 49 confirmed coronavirus cases in the country. The first Filipino COVID-19 death was announced on Wednesday, March 10, totaling to two fatalities in the Philippines. JB

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