of business. Even big businesses were not spared. The only sectors allowed to operate were drugstores, groceries, wet markets, and certain manufacturing companies such as food, medical equipment, drugs, delivery services, and telecommunications services. Local transport services were made to stop operations, affecting frontliners such as nurses, drugstore, and grocery store employees, among others, who needed to travel daily to and from work. Physical offices were closed down. All these created an increased demand for strong internet connectivity to keep businesses alive and keep communication lines open, not just for business but to get in touch with families, friends, colleagues, and the outside in general amidst the lockdown. The vulnerable sectors were especially hit. And to make matters worse, government’s response to the situation was slow and unclear, causing confusion on supposed national policies and programs in handling the pandemic. The crisis served to deepen pre-existing inequalities, exposing vulnerabilities in social, political, technological, and economic systems, which only amplified the negative impact of COVID-19.
burden, was crucial. Instability of work and disrupted operations were major concerns, weighing on the over-all wellness of all stakeholders and making the implementation of linking and learning activities difficult because the organizations would rather focus on their own projects. Some sped up their Voice projects given the disruptions caused by the pandemic to the implementation of their activities. Others focused their attention on providing humanitarian aid. This only showed that there was a clear disconnect between linking and learning in its current design and the grantees’ thrust in the current context.
The shift to humanitarian aid and disaster
response, including providing assistance
for mental and psychological
15
PHOTO: CNN PHILIPPINES
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