While the COVID-19 pandemic presented itself as a global challenge that greatly hampered progress everywhere, its combination with other national emergencies and political developments in the country made 2020 a year of crises for the Philippines. The year of crises presented itself as a litmus test for the effectiveness of Rodrigo Duterte’s populist leadership and for the resilience of Philippine democracy. It was a year of reckoning that unmasked the government’s misplaced priorities and exposed systemic deficiencies in various areas of governance. Likewise, the year of crises also provided an effective rationale for greater executive aggrandizement, aggravating the continued trend of democratic backsliding since 2016. This year-end review outlines how the government has managed the year of crises, and how its responses led to these two thematic developments that define 2020 for the Philippines. The essay provides local contextualization in terms of how democratic backsliding is aggravated by situations of crises, and how these crises unmask systemic deficiencies in weak democracies such as the Philippines.
Purchase
Buy instant access (PDF download and unlimited online access):
Institutional Login
Log in with Open Athens, Shibboleth, or your institutional credentials
Personal login
Log in with your brill.com account
ABS-CBN News. 2020. “DOH says no need to deny entry to visitors from mainland China amid 2019-nCoV threat.” https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/29/20/doh-says-no-need-to-deny-entry-to-visitors-from-mainland-china-amid-2019-ncov-threat.
Agcaoili, John Gabriel. 2020. “What caused Metro Manila’s worst flood in years?.” ABS-CBN News. https://news.abs-cbn.com/spotlight/11/13/20/what-caused-metro-manilas-worst-flood-in-years.
Aguirre, Arjan. 2019. “The Philippines in 2018: a Year of Disruption and Consolidation.” Philippine Political Science Journal 40 (2019): 100–123. doi:10.1163/2165025X-12340004.
Albert, Jose Ramon G. 2020. “Were the Philippines’ COVID-19 responses sufficient?.” East Asia Forum. https://www.eastasiaforum.org/2020/12/23/were-the-philippines-covid-19-responses-sufficient/.
Atienza, Maria Ela. 2020. “Emergency Powers and COVID-19: The Philippines as a case study.” International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) and Constitution Transformation Network. https://law.unimelb.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/3474344/MF20-Web1-Philippines-Ela-FINAL.pdf.
Atienza, Maria Ela, Arugay, Aries, Encinas-Franco, J., Go, Jan Robert, and Panao, Rogelio Alicor. 2020. “Constitutional Performance Assessment in the Time of a Pandemic: The 1987 Constitution and the Philippines’ COVID-19 Response.” International IDEA and University of the Philippines Center for Integrative and Development Studies. https://www.idea.int/publications/catalogue/constitutional-performance-assessment-time-pandemic.
Bauer, Michael and Becker, Stefan. 2020. “Democratic Backsliding, Populism, and Public Administration.” Perspectives on Public Management and Governance (2020): 19–31. doi:10.1093/ppmgov/gvz026.
Bayanihan to Heal As One Act. Republic Act 11469. Official Gazette (2020): 1–14. https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2020/03/24/republic-act-no-11469/.
Beltran, Michael. 2021. “Battle Over Anti-Terror Law Opens at the Philippines’ Top Court.” The Diplomat. https://thediplomat.com/2021/02/battle-over-anti-terror-law-opens-at-the-philippines-top-court/.
Bermeo, Nancy. 2016. “On Democratic Backsliding.” Journal of Democracy 27, no. 01 (2016): 5–19.
Berse, Kristoffer B. 2020. “In Science We Trust? Science Advice and the COVID-19 response in the Philippines.” International Network for Government Science Advice. https://www.ingsa.org/covidtag/covid-19-commentary/berse-philippines/.
Blancaflor, MJ. 2020. “Duque admits lapses in COVID response, but gives DOH near-perfect rate ‘for great effort’”. Daily Tribune. https://tribune.net.ph/index.php/2020/12/30/duque-admits-lapses-in-covid-response-but-gives-doh-near-perfect-rate-for-great-effort/.
Brucal, A., Roezer, V., Dookie, D., Byrnes, R., Ravago, M., Cruz, F., & Narisma, G. 2020. “Disaster impacts and financing: local insights from the Philippines.” London: Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment and Centre for Climate Change Economics and Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science.
Buan, Lian. 2020. “After 7 months, Supreme Court looks into delay in freeing quarantine violators.” Rappler. Accessed March 11, 2021. https://www.rappler.com/nation/after-7-months-sc-looks-into-prolonged-detention-of-quarantine-violators.
Buan, Lian. 2020b. “What went wrong during Typhoon Ulysses?.” Rappler. https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/in-depth/what-went-wrong-protocol-communication-leadership-typhoon-ulysses.
Bǔstíková, Lenka and Babǒs, Pavol. 2020. “Best in Covid: Populists in the Time of Pandemic.” Politics and Governance 8, no. 4: 496–508.
Cabico, Gaea-Katreena. 2020. “NOAH isn’t gone but here’s what we lost when the project ended.” Philstar. https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/11/13/2056674/noah-isnt-gone-heres-what-we-lost-when-project-ended.
Canlas, Jomar. 2020. “ABS-CBN lays off 4,000 workers.” The Manila Times. https://www.manilatimes.net/2020/09/01/news/national/abs-cbn-lays-off-4000-workers/762021/.
Cepeda, Mara. 2020. “Even with coronavirus scare, no mainland Chinese travel ban for now – Duque.” Rappler. https://www.rappler.com/nation/coronavirus-scare-travel-ban-mainland-chinese-not-for-now-duque.
CNN Philippines Staff. 2020a. “Bureau of Quarantine Oks Arrival of China, Hong Kong ships to Manila – PCG.” https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2020/1/28/China-Hong-Kong-cruise-ships-Manila-novel-coronavirus-.html.
CNN Philippines Staff. 2020b. “Over 16,000 frontliners yet to receive hazard pay from DOH.” https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2020/11/19/DOH-hazard-pay-special-risk-allowance-COVID-19.html.
CNN Philippines Staff. 2020c. “House, Senate urged to convene oversight committee following Duterte’s first COVID-19 report.” https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2020/3/31/congressional-oversight-committee-duterte-covid-19.html.
Collas-Monsod, Solita. 2020. “Where’s the concern for Filipinos?.” Inquirer.net. https://opinion.inquirer.net/127072/wheres-the-concern-for-filipinos.
Conde, Carlos. 2019. “Duterte Threatens to Shut Down TV Network.” Human Rights Network. https://www.hrw.org/news/2019/12/04/duterte-threatens-shut-down-tv-network.
Conoza, Adrian Paul B. “2020: A disruptive year for Philippine economy.” Business World Online. https://www.bworldonline.com/2020-a-disruptive-year-for-philippine-economy/.
Croissant, Aurel. 2020. “Democracies with Preexisting Conditions and the Coronavirus in the Indo-Pacific.” The Asan Forum. http://www.theasanforum.org/democracies-with-preexisting-conditions-and-the-coronavirus-in-the-indo-pacific/.
Croissant, Aurel and Haynes, Jeffrey. 2021. “Democratic Regression in Asia: introduction.” Democratization 28: no. 1 (2021): 1–21. https://doi.org/10.1080/13510347.2020.1851203.
Curato, Nicole. 2021. “Democratic expressions amidst fragile institutions: Possibilities for reform in Duterte’s Philippines.” Brookings. Accessed March 11, 2021. https://www.brookings.edu/articles/democratic-expressions-amidst-fragile-institutions-possibilities-for-reform-in-dutertes-philippines/.
De Vera, Ben O. 2020a. “4.5 million Pinoys jobless in 2020.” Inquirer.net. Accessed March 11, 2021. https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1367928/4-5m-pinoys-jobless-in-2020.
De Vera, Ben O. 2020b. “World Bank: Pandemic to sink 2.7M more Filipinos in poverty.” Inquirer.net. Accessed March 11, 2021. https://business.inquirer.net/313528/world-bank-pandemic-to-sink-2-7m-more-filipinos-in-poverty.
Department of Health. 2016. “National Objectives for Health: Philippines 2017–2022.” Manila, Philippines: Department of Health.
Dizon, Nikko. 2020. “Duterte and his generals: A shock and awe response to the pandemic.” Rappler. Accessed March 11, 2021. https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/in-depth/duterte-shock-and-awe-coronavirus-pandemic-response-generals.
Farolan, Ramon J. 2021. “The incompetence of the Philippines Covid-19 response: Inquirer columnist.” The Straits Times. Accessed March 11, 2021. https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/the-incompetence-of-the-philippines-covid-19-response-inquirer-columnist.
Freedom House. 2020. “Freedom in the World 2020: Philippines.” Accessed March 11, 2021. https://freedomhouse.org/country/philippines/freedom-world/2020.
Gibson-Fall, Fawzia. 2020. “Coronavirus: how to avoid military responses becoming double-edged swords.” The Conversation. Accessed March 11, 2021. https://theconversation.com/coronavirus-how-to-avoid-military-responses-becoming-double-edged-swords-135262.
Gita-Carlos, Ruth Abbey. 2020. “PRRD proposes congressional oversight body on Bayanihan spending.” Philippine News Agency. Accessed March 11, 2021. https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1113290.
Heydarian, Richard. 2021. “Duterte’s COVID blunders will set the Philippines back generations.” Nikkei Asia. Accessed March 11, 2021. https://asia.nikkei.com/Opinion/Duterte-s-COVID-blunders-will-set-the-Philippines-back-generations.
Human Rights Watch (HRW). 2020. “Philippines: Events of 2020.” Human Rights Watch. https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2021/country-chapters/philippines.
HRW. 2021. “Philippines: ‘Drug War’ Killings Rise During Pandemic.” https://www.hrw.org/news/2021/01/13/philippines-drug-war-killings-rise-during-pandemic.
Hutchcroft, Paul D. and Rocamora, J. “Strong Demands and Weak Institutions: The Origins and Evolution of the Democratic Deficit in the Philippines.” Journal of East Asian Studies 3 (2003): 259–292. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1598240800001363.
Inquirer staff. 2020a. “Cagayan still flooded; typhoon deaths now 69.” https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1361049/cagayan-still-flooded-typhoon-deaths-now-69.
Inquirer staff. 2020b. “Duterte not keen on stopping tourist traffic from China.” Inquirer.net. https://globalnation.inquirer.net/184635/duterte-not-keen-on-stopping-tourist-traffic-from-china.
International IDEA. 2020a. “Taking Stock of Global Democratic Trends Before and During the COVID 19 Pandemic.” idea.int/publications/catalogue/global-democratic-trends-before-and-during-covid19.
International IDEA. 2020b. “Global Monitor of COVID-19’s impact on Democracy and Human Rights.” https://www.idea.int/gsod-indices/#/indices/world-map.
Kaiser, Stefanie. 2021. “Pandemic Backsliding in The Philippines.” Varieties of Democracy. https://www.v-dem.net/en/news/pandemic-backsliding-philippines/.
Laforga, B. 2020a. “Philippines to be SE Asia’s worst performer this year.” BusinessWorld. https://www.bworldonline.com/philippines-to-be-se-asias-worst-performer-this-year/.
Laforga, B. 2020b. “World Bank urges gov’t to assign more weight to disaster risk in budget planning.” BusinessWorld. https://www.bworldonline.com/world-bank-urges-govt-to-assign-more-weight-to-disaster-risk-in-budget-planning/.
Lim, Joseph Anthony. 2020. “The Philippine Economy During the Covid Pandemic.” Working paper No. 2020-16. Ateneo de Manila University Department of Economics. http://ateneo.edu/ls/soss/economics/wp-2020-16-philippine-economy-during-covid-pandemic.
Lin, Hsien-Ming. 2020. “Lessons from Taiwan’s coronavirus response.” East Asia Forum. https://www.eastasiaforum.org/2020/04/02/lessons-from-taiwans-coronavirus-response/.
Lina, Joey D. “Coping with massive flooding.” Manila Bulletin. https://mb.com.ph/2020/11/17/coping-with-massive-flooding/.
Lopez, Melissa L. 2020. “Foregone income from Taal eruption may hit P6.7B-NEDA.” CNN Philippines. http://cnnphilippines.com/business/2020/1/20/Taal-foregone-income-NEDA-estimate.html.
Lorch, Jasmin. 2021. “Elite capture, civil society and democratic backsliding in Bangladesh, Thailand and the Philippines.” Democratization 28: 1 (2020): 81–102. https://doi.org/10.1080/13510347.2020.1842360.
Lowy Institute. 2020. “Covid Performance Index: Deconstructing Performance Index.” https://interactives.lowyinstitute.org/features/covid-performance/.
Luci-Atienza, Charissa. 2020. “Yearender: House Minority bloc remains active fiscalizer.” https://mb.com.ph/2020/12/31/yearender-house-minority-bloc-remains-active-fiscalizer/.
Macasero, Ryan. 2020. “Duterte admits lapses in COVID-19 response.” Rappler. https://www.rappler.com/nation/duterte-admits-lapses-covid-19-response-sona-2020.
Madarang, C. 2020. “Palace rebuffs SWS poll finding that critical reporting vs gov’t is ‘dangerous.’ But here’s what some Filipinos say.” Interaksyon. https://interaksyon.philstar.com/politics-issues/2020/08/10/174695/palace-rebuffs-sws-poll-crticial-reporting-vs-govt-dangerous-what-filipinos-say/.
Mangada, Ladylyn Lim, and Yvonne Su. “Achieving Human Security after a Disaster: the Case of the Haiyan Widows”, Philippine Political Science Journal 40, 1–2 (2019): 153–181, doi:https://doi.org/10.1163/2165025X-12340006.
Matlin, SA., Schnabel, A., Kickbusch, I., Winkler, T., Sangiorgio, M., Told, M., Trepp, U., and Werder, W. 2016. “The Security Sector and Global Health Crises: Lessons and Prospects. A Policy Brief.” Global Health Centre, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies and Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces. https://www.dcaf.ch/sites/default/files/publications/documents/PB_health_security_v6.pdf.
Mayuga, Jonathan. 2020. “Ulysses exits PHL after turning Luzon into massive swampland.” Business Mirror. https://businessmirror.com.ph/2020/11/12/ulysses-exits-phl-after-turning-luzon-into-massive-swampland/.
Mendoza, Ronald and Romano, Dion. 2020. “The Philippines Anti-Terrorism Act: Who Guards the Guardians?.” https://thediplomat.com/2020/07/the-philippines-anti-terrorism-act-who-guards-the-guardians/.
Mercado, Neil Arwin. 2020a. “Super Typhoon Rolly bares ‘information gap’ left by ABS-CBN shutdown.” Inquirer.net. https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1355206/abs-cbn-shutdown-and-the-information-gap-amid-super-typhoon-rolly.
Mercado, Neil Arwin. 2020b. “House minority bloc opposes ‘swift passage’ of Anti-Terror Bill.” Inquirer.net. https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1285622/house-minority-bloc-opposes-swift-passage-of-anti-terror-bill.
Montemayor, Ma. Teresa. 2020. “DOH welcomes development of Covid-19 contact tracing apps”. Philippine News Agency. https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1108189.
Morales, Neil Jerome. 2020. “‘Losing battle’: Philippine doctors, nurses urge new COVID-19 lockdowns as infections surge.” Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronarvirus-philippines-idUSKCN24X3IA.
National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC). 2020a. “NDRRMC Update Sitrep No. 11 re Preparedness Measures and Effects for Typhoon Quinta (i.n. Molave).” https://ndrrmc.gov.ph/attachments/article/4130/SitRep_no_11_re_Typh00n_Quinta_as_of_09NOV2020.pdf.
NDRRMC. 2020b. “NDRRMC Update Sitrep No. 12 re Preparedness Measures and Effects for Typhoon Rolly (i.n. Goni).” https://ndrrmc.gov.ph/attachments/article/4135/SitRep_no_12_re_STY_ROLLY_as_of_11NOV2020.pdf.
NDRRMC. 2020c. “NDRRMC Update Sitrep No. 29 re Preparedness Measures and Effects for Typhoon Ulysses (i.n. Vamco).” https://ndrrmc.gov.ph/attachments/article/4130/SitRep_no_11_re_Typh00n_Quinta_as_of_09NOV2020.pdf.
National Research Council of the Philippines. 2020. “NRCP Study Reveals the Feelings, Cognitions, Behaviors of Filipinos During the COVID-19 Pandemic.” https://nrcp.dost.gov.ph/latest-news/604-nrcp-study-reveals-the-feelings-cognitions-behaviors-of-filipinos-during-the-covid-19-pandemic.
National Union of Journalists of the Philippines. 2020. “[Statement] Defend Press Freedom! Defend the People’s Right to Know!.” https://nujp.org/statement/statement-defend-press-freedom-defend-the-peoples-right-to-know/.
Office of Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process. 2020. “Bayanihan ni Juan: The Filipino Spirit at its Finest.” https://peace.gov.ph/2020/04/bayanihan-ni-juan-the-filipino-spirit-at-its-finest/.
Our World in Data. 2020. “Coronavirus Pandemic Data Explorer.” https://ourworldindata.org/.
Parrocha, Azer. 2020. “Filipinos’ indomitable spirit helped us survive 2020: Duterte.” Philippine News Agency. https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1125612.
Peralta, Janine. 2020 “Duterte not keen on banning travel to China amid coronavirus scare.” CNN Philippines. https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2020/1/29/duterte-on-china-travel-ban.html.
Pesek, William. 2020. “How COVID-19 undid Duterte’s poser government in the Philippines.” Nikkei Asia. https://asia.nikkei.com/Opinion/How-COVID-19-undid-Duterte-s-poser-government-in-the-Philippines.
Pham, Bac and Bennett Murray. 2020. “Behind Vietnam’s COVID-19 Response, Deep Distrust of China”. The Diplomat. https://thediplomat.com/2020/05/behind-vietnams-covid-19-response-deep-distrust-of-china/.
Philstar. 2021. “As it Happens: ABS-CBN’s Franchise.” https://www.philstar.com/happens/819.
Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO). 2019. “Speech of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte during the oath-taking of the newly appointed government officials.” https://pcoo.gov.ph/presidential-speech/speech-of-president-rodrigo-roa-duterte-during-the-oath-taking-of-the-newly-appointed-government-officials/.
PCOO. 2020. “Inter-Agency Task Force Virtual Presser with Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles.” https://pcoo.gov.ph/press-briefing/inter-agency-task-force-virtual-presser-with-cabinet-secretary-karlo-nograles-11/.
PCOO. 2020a. “Press Briefing of Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque April 16, 2020.” https://pcoo.gov.ph/press-briefing/press-briefing-of-presidential-spokesperson-harry-roque-34/.
PCOO. 2020b. “Talk to the People of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) June 22, 2021.” https://pcoo.gov.ph/presidential-speech/talk-to-the-people-of-president-rodrigo-roa-duterte-on-coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19-11/.
Punzalan, Jamaine. 2020. “‘Marami tayong aarestuhin’: DILG warns of more arrests in stricter COVID-19 lockdown.” ABS-CBN News. https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/17/20/marami-tayong-aarestuhin-dilg-warns-of-more-arrests-in-stricter-covid-19-lockdown.
Quilinguing, Khalil Ismael Michael G. 2020. “The Philippine Genome Center: Stockpiling for COVID-19.” University of the Philippines. https://up.edu.ph/the-philippine-genome-center-stockpiling-for-covid-19/.
Quintos, Paul L. “The Philippines’ COVID-19 Response: Symptoms of Deeper Malaise in the Philippine Health System.” Policy Paper (UP National College of Public Administration and Governance). https://ncpag.upd.edu.ph/wp-content/uploads/covid19response.pdf.
Ramos, Christia Marie. 2020a. “Senators question ‘delay’ in release of COVID-19 risk allowance to healthcare workers.” Inquirer.net. https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1351777/senators-question-delay-in-release-of-covid-19-risk-allowance-to-healthcare-workers.
Ramos, Marlon. 2020b. “P15 billion went to PhilHealth ‘syndicate’ – whistleblower.” Inquirer.net. https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1316858/whistleblower-p-15b-went-to-philhealth-syndicate.
Ranada, Pia. 2018. “Duterte says he banned Rappler due to ‘twisted’ reporting.” Rappler. https://www.rappler.com/nation/duterte-rappler-ban-twisted-reporting.
Recuenco, Aaron. 2020. “Yearender: PNP at the forefront of pandemic response.” Manila Bulletin. https://mb.com.ph/2020/12/31/yearender-pnp-at-the-forefront-of-pandemic-response/.
Regalado, Edith. 2020. “Xiamen Air flight from China lands in Davao.” Philstar Global. https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/01/30/1988943/xiamen-air-flight-china-lands-davao.
Reuters Staff. 2020. “‘Shoot them dead’ – Philippine leader says won’t tolerate lockdown violators.” Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-philippines-dutert-idUSKBN21K0AY.
Santos, Ana P. “Poverty punished as Philippines gets tough in virus pandemic.” Aljazeera. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/4/13/poverty-punished-as-philippines-gets-tough-in-virus-pandemic.
Sapalo, Noreen H. and Marasigan, Teo S. 2020. “The Pasaway and Duterte’s Pandemic Blame Game.” Forces of Renewal for Southeast Asia. https://forsea.co/the-pasaway-and-dutertes-pandemic-blame-game/.
See, Aia Balagtas. “‘They treated me like I murdered someone’: Lockdown arrests mark 1st year of PH pandemic response,” Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism. https://pcij.org/article/4836/they-treated-me-like-i-murdered-someone-lockdown-arrests-mark-1st-year-of-ph-pandemic-response.
Social Weather Stations (SWS). 2019. “Fourth Quarter 2019 Social Weather Survey: 96% of Filipinos enter 2020 with hope.” http://www.sws.org.ph/swsmain/artcldisppage/?artcsyscode=ART-20191227161925.
SWS. 2020a. “Fourth Quarter 2020 Social Weather Survey: 91% of Filipinos enter New Year with Hope; lowest since 2009.” http://www.sws.org.ph/swsmain/artcldisppage/?artcsyscode=ART-20201229103002.
SWS. 2020b. “SWS July 3–6, 2020 National Mobile Phone Survey – Report No. 2.” http://www.sws.org.ph/swsmain/artcldisppage/?artcsyscode=ART-20200711190421.
Stavrakakis, Yannis and Katsambekis, Giorgos. 2020. “Populism and the Pandemic: A Collaborative Report.” POPULISMUS Interventions no. 7 (special edition): 1–56. https://repository.lboro.ac.uk/articles/report/Populism_and_the_pandemic_A_collaborative_report/12546284.
Thompson, Mark. 2021. “Pushback after backsliding? Unconstrained executive aggrandizement in the Philippines versus contested military-monarchical rule in Thailand.” Democratization 28: 1 (2021): 124–141. https://doi.org/10.1080/13510347.2020.1835860.
Tigno, Jorge. 2020. “A Primer on Bayanihan to Heal as One Act of 2020.” University of the Philippines Department of Political Science. https://polisci.upd.edu.ph/resources/bayanihan-primer/#19.
Timberman, David. 2019. “Philippine Politics Under Duterte: A Midterm Assessment.” Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. https://carnegieendowment.org/2019/01/10/philippine-politics-under-duterte-midterm-assessment-pub-78091.
Tomacruz, Sofia. “Where are the promised 30,000 tests a day? The government’s moving targets.” Rappler. https://r3.rappler.com/nation/262534-philippines-misses-targets-mass-testing-coronavirus.
Valderama, Tita C. “Who’s really leading us to perdition?” VERA Files. https://verafiles.org/articles/whos-really-leading-us-perdition.
Vallejo, Benjamin and Ong, Rodrigo. “Policy responses and government science advice for the COVID 19 pandemic in the Philippines: January to April 2020.” Progress in Disaster Science 7 (2020): https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pdisas.2020.100115.
Varieties of Democracy. 2020. “Pandemic Backsliding: Democracy During COVID-19 (March to December 2020).” https://www.v-dem.net/en/analysis/PanDem/.
Virtudes, Sofia. 2020. “Filipinos slam gov’t, demand China travel ban amid 1st coronavirus case in PH.” Rappler. https://www.rappler.com/nation/netizens-reaction-philippines-coronavirus-case-china-travel-ban.
World Bank. 2020. “Philippines Economic Update, December 2020: Building a Resilient Recovery.” World Bank. https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/34899?show=full.
YouGov. 2020. “Personal measures taken to avoid COVID-19.” https://today.yougov.com/topics/international/articles-reports/2020/03/17/personal-measures-taken-avoid-covid-19.
Zhuang, Juzhong. 2020. “Commentary: COVID-19 will worsen inequalities across Asia.” Channel News Asia. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/commentary/coronavirus-covid-19-economy-recession-inequality-msme-policy-12852180.
All Time | Past 365 days | Past 30 Days | |
---|---|---|---|
Abstract Views | 3412 | 329 | 25 |
Full Text Views | 154 | 15 | 0 |
PDF Views & Downloads | 392 | 35 | 0 |
While the COVID-19 pandemic presented itself as a global challenge that greatly hampered progress everywhere, its combination with other national emergencies and political developments in the country made 2020 a year of crises for the Philippines. The year of crises presented itself as a litmus test for the effectiveness of Rodrigo Duterte’s populist leadership and for the resilience of Philippine democracy. It was a year of reckoning that unmasked the government’s misplaced priorities and exposed systemic deficiencies in various areas of governance. Likewise, the year of crises also provided an effective rationale for greater executive aggrandizement, aggravating the continued trend of democratic backsliding since 2016. This year-end review outlines how the government has managed the year of crises, and how its responses led to these two thematic developments that define 2020 for the Philippines. The essay provides local contextualization in terms of how democratic backsliding is aggravated by situations of crises, and how these crises unmask systemic deficiencies in weak democracies such as the Philippines.
All Time | Past 365 days | Past 30 Days | |
---|---|---|---|
Abstract Views | 3412 | 329 | 25 |
Full Text Views | 154 | 15 | 0 |
PDF Views & Downloads | 392 | 35 | 0 |