On Monday, February 1, President Rodrigo Duterte made a revelation [that was expected by many] that the economy is sinking. According to him, the Philippines is losing Php2 billion pesos every day due to Covid-19.
“Araw-araw, we are losing P2 billion na pera na para sana ‘yun sa tao. The workers, the Filipino workers would have earned that money kung ang ekonomiya natin gumagalaw,” said the president in an aired public briefing.
“We are sinking deeper and deeper,” he added.
Moreover, the President revealed that the economy of the country is in a ‘bad shape.’ However, he explained that the Philippines is not the only one experiencing this devastating blow. He pointed that even other countries are dealing with it, too. Duterte still assured the Filipino people about the Administration’s efforts in doing its best to keep the nation ‘afloat’.
Nevertheless, many celebrities and Netizens already knew about the state of the country.
Pia Magalona tweeted and blamed the President for the situation that the Philippines is going through. Additionally, she attacked Duterte’s war against the media, leading to his poor decisions.
Yeah. And you’re the reason we are in this PREDICAMENT.
A GREAT leader has GREAT DECISION-MAKING SKILLS, which obviously you don’t.
It’s just been a series of bad decisions, based on personal vendetta esp towards Media. https://t.co/Y64h0pXYml
— Pia Magalona ⁷ (@piamagalona) February 2, 2021
For former Survivor Philippines‘ host Kiko Rustia, the President is at fault because of how incompetent he is. He also added that only he and his cronies benefited from the pandemic while the country is suffering. The TV host also stressed the commander-in-chief’s affiliation to China and despite being considered as an ally of the Philippines, continues to steal from the country’s coffers.
Wala ka kasing kwentang lider. Ikaw lang at mga alipores mo nakinabang habang ang buong bansa nagdusa. Nadamay pa ang Pilipinas sa kawalang tiwala sayo ng ibang mga bansa, China na lang pinagmamalaki mo pero tinatabla ka pa din at patuloy pa din tayo ninanakawan. Bulok ka. https://t.co/0xgK62uGxk
— kiko rustia (@kikorustia) February 2, 2021
Singer Leah Navarro also held Duterte accountable for the country’s current crisis. The singer does not think that he is capable of running the country.
Because you’re no capable ship’s captain, Duterte. You’ve steered us into an inescapable maelstrom of failure. https://t.co/P7AVu6Cy9K
— Leah Navarro (@leahnavarro) February 2, 2021
For journalist Alan C. Robles, stripping the corrupt and the greedy government officials of their power would help the country in this predicament Filipinos are currently in.
throw the overweight, massively overeating parasites off the ship https://t.co/luayJWqf4z
— alan c. robles @hotmanila@mastodon.online (@hotmanila) February 2, 2021
With Duterte’s claims that other countries are also in the same position as the Philippines, Rappler columnist JC Punongbayan refuted the President’s claim stating that Vietnam’s economy didn’t fail. Moreover, the Philippines was the only country to ever have its economy at the bottom compared to other ASEAN members.
Wait. Ang Pinas ang pinaka-bumagsak sa ASEAN. Ang Vietnam ni hindi bumagsak. https://t.co/lOuPbZHPsr pic.twitter.com/RGftvx98gw
— JC Punongbayan, PhD (@jcpunongbayan) February 1, 2021
Palanca award-winning writer Ogie Rosa also disproved the President’s assertion showing that countries such as Vietnam, Taiwan, and China had their economies grew by 2+%. Meanwhile, though the rest of the Asian economies had losses, only the Philippines sunk at the very bottom.
DUTERTE: Lahat ng mga bansa sa buong mundo bagsak.
Not really. In Asia, for instance, the economies of Vietnam, Taiwan, and China grew by 2+%. And while the rest of Asian economies contracted, PINAKASUMADSAD ANG PILIPINAS. pic.twitter.com/c9q1z2VMFP
— Ogie Rosa (@ogie_rosa) February 2, 2021
Rosa also criticized the Duterte administration because of how ugly the economy of the Philippines has become. For the writer, it reeks of incompetence resulting in the country’s downfall.
At dahil pinakamalaki ang pagbagsak ng Pilipinas, ibig sabihin hindi lang pandemya ang isyu. Nandyan din ang I.N.C.O.M.P.E.T.E.N.C.E. https://t.co/zc2EguA4Wz
— Ogie Rosa (@ogie_rosa) February 2, 2021
Despite one of the highest unemployment rates in Asia, Karl Kendrick Chua (acting NEDA Secretary) claimed in 2020–the Philippines is among the powerful economies around the world. IBON Foundation executive director Sonny Africa also rejected the Acting NEDA Secretary Chua’s defense.
So apparently there's an alternate universe with a theory of economics where having one of the highest unemployment rates in Asia makes you one of the "strongest" economies in the world. pic.twitter.com/VlnBJSDDBS
— Sonny Africa (@sonnyafrica) February 1, 2021
With vaccines already at the Administration’s disposal, Filipinos have thought that there is already a vaccination plan in place. Netizen @josh_danac also thought the government is already implementing its plan. The testing czar Vince Dizon through CNN Philippines; disclosed that the Administration has yet to decide who are to receive the first batch of Pfizer vaccines.
Kala ko ba may vaccination plan……… jddjcbcbxkxkdkxxnw https://t.co/XLFpbJbiuF
— Josh (@josh_danac) February 2, 2021
With the coronavirus still affecting the whole world, lifestyle writer Wanggo Gallaga showed the countries that had the most successful fight against Covid. According to Gallaga, good and intelligent governance could also prevent the spread of the deadly virus. Meanwhile, the Philippines had waited for vaccines to be available.
Without vaccines and just good, intelligent governance pic.twitter.com/YeDtEabiWx
— Wanggo (@wanggo_g) February 1, 2021
Because of the President’s incompetence, former Ifugao representative Teddy B. Baguilat on Twitter wants a new leader that is the opposite of the current leader. Baguilat wrote that he gears Vice President Leni Robredo for the Presidency this coming 2022 elections.
We need a new captain with better ideas and a person who can unite us. #Leni2022. “We are sinking': Duterte says Philippines losing P2 billion daily due to COVID-19 | ABS-CBN News https://t.co/PGIwWa4MWS
— Teddy B. Baguilat (@TeddyBaguilatJr) February 2, 2021
Like former Health adviser, Tony Leachon did not blame the President. Leachon held the task leaders appointed by President Duterte culpable for the incompetence and the unclear Covid-19 plan.
I can only empathize with PRRD. Honestly , we don’t have a clear roadmap and we lack competent & kind leaders on the tasks that need to be done with sense of urgency.
Sadly, success requires making a hundred small steps go right – one after the other, no slipups, no drop balls. https://t.co/VwhpBuhhGQ— Tony Leachon MD (@DrTonyLeachon) February 1, 2021
In June 2020, the government decided to revive the failing Philippine economy. With such easing its restrictions, allowing the few to return to work and resume public transportation. As a background, the Philippines had the longest- lockdown-in-the-world and nearly 80 days after the virus from Wuhan, China spread globally.
