What If: COVID-19 in the Philippines in Light of the Catholic Social Tradition

• Main Author: Mendoza, Ruben C
• Format: text
• Published: Archīum Ateneo 2020
• Subjects: Catholic Social Tradition; Church; COVID-19; Duterte; Field Hospital; Lockdown; Philippines; Religion; Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion
• Online Access: https://archium.ateneo.edu/theology-faculty-pubs/21; https://ateneo.academia.edu/RubenMendoza
• Institution: Ateneo De Manila University

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a significant challenge to governments all over the world. In many ways, it has exposed the weaknesses of the Philippine government and its structures. While the government rightly imposed a lockdown on its people, it resulted in the marginalization of the poor. If only government policies and programs were informed by the Catholic social tradition, the government would be in a better position of truly being at the service of its people. The crisis presents a unique opportunity to the government to rethink of its structures and projects that would enable it to contribute to the formation of communities that foster human dignity and development.