Human Security and Social Protection in Crisis: Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic

[2G211] Community Lockdowns and Social Protection Programs

*Leslie Advincula LOPEZ¹, Jessica Sandra R. Claudio¹, Mendoza C. Haraya Marikit C. ¹ (1. Ateneo de Manila University)

Keywords:militarized community lockdowns, social protection programs , Covid-19 disruptions

The COVID-19 pandemic is among the most recent human security crises. In the Philippines, the State response generally consisted of implementing population control mechanisms to contain the spread of the virus and social protection programs for the country's most vulnerable sectors. These primarily took the form of community lockdowns and the Social Amelioration Program (SAP). The study reviewed the various memos released by the Interagency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) concerning these lockdowns as well as both the Republic Act 11469 or the “Bayanihan to Heal as One Act” (Bayanihan 1) and the Republic Act No. 11494 or the “Bayanihan to Recover as One Act” (Bayanihan 2). It seeks to trace the Philippine COVID-19 pandemic response and view these concerning the human security framework. Generally, the State pandemic response has been described as “militarized” with extensive use of police and military forces (Imbong, 2021; Hapal, 2021; Agojo, 2021; Gibson-Fall, 2021). Although the military's organizational structure may provide advantages, military leadership may similarly negatively affect other dimensions of people’s lives, such as their hard-earned civil liberties. Though existent, social protection programs also had lapses. These included issues with inaccurate targeting systems, insufficient financial assistance to provide a proper safety net, delayed distributions of cash assistance, and the coordination between national and local governments. Nevertheless, the study maintains the importance of ensuring robust frameworks for equitable and just welfare distribution through State social protection programs.