The Old Poor During Pandemic

“We can’t feed the poor but we can fund the war?” – Jay Lagrimas, photographer, and artist.

Manila, December 3, 2020 – There are 434,357 reported covid-19 cases in the Philippines. 399,005 have recovered, 8,436 died, and 29,916 are active (DOH Covid-19 Tracker). Authorities have advised us to take precautionary measures to avoid the transmission of the virus such as washing our hands as often as possible; disinfecting our home and furniture; avoid touching our eyes, nose, and mouth; limit social gatherings; avoid close contact with people who are sick, and wear mask and face shield when going outside. But how can the poor survive without observing these safety measures?

They say that poor people are more resilient than those born with a silver spoon. There are huge differences in the way of living between the poor and the rich. Rich people have overflowing resources while the poor have limited or sometimes none.

They don’t suffer from hunger as they have a superfluous supply of food and water. And when it comes to their health, they can afford the best healthcare. Imagine how the less fortunate wait in line for hours at public hospitals while the rich get attended to easily without any hassle. Rich people have more than enough resources that could provide them comfort during this pandemic.

Based on the Philippine Statistics Authority report on unemployment last October, there are 3.8 million unemployed Filipinos who are 15 years old and over. Among them are thousands of public transport drivers who have lost their jobs during the pandemic. And as private companies remain closed, the number continues to rise.

Their families struggle to look for ways that could help them survive on a daily basis. Old people and children are likely to suffer from these adversities.

Many Filipinos are suffering from a serious setback. Covid-19 and global recession make the poor poorer. The government must prepare a post-pandemic strategy to help our citizens get back on their feet again.

Jay, the 24-year-old photographer, and artist thinks that the government should prioritize the poor as the number of hungry families rises. He says that if the government can generously fund the war, why not the poor?