Commentary: Still reeling from Duterte’s war on drugs, Manila’s poor hit hardest by COVID-19

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Manila’s lockdown left millions who eke out a hardscrabble existence in the city’s underground economy without any means of support, says Sheila ...

READ: Commentary: The Philippines, home of many beautiful destinations – and the scourge of mass tourism

Those who work among the poor fear the havoc the coronavirus will likely wreak in Manila’s shantytowns. Many there don’t have running water, said Pilario. How can they even wash their hands? They can barely afford to eat, much less buy hand sanitisers. A restaurant has opened its doors to the homeless, as have some churches and Catholic schools. Many groups are organising donations, braving checkpoints, and overcoming government limits on food purchases to help the neediest as the government scrambles for a response.

Duterte played down the threat of contagion, saying Filipinos had natural antibodies that would shield them from infection. Now he is buckling down and on Monday asked Congress for emergency powers to deal with the pandemic.FILE PHOTO: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte gestures during his fourth State of the Nation Address at the Philippine Congress in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines July 22, 2019.

 

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