The National Democratic Front of the Philippines-North Eastern Mindanao Region (NDFP-NEMR) joins the Filipino people and all the peoples in the word facing the threat of COVID-19, in commemorating the 50th year celebration of Earth Day. We strongly condemn the imperialists, who in the midst of all these, continue to destroy the environment around the world.
At present, 2.3 million people have been infected with COVID-19 globally, with more than 100,000 deaths, mostly in the United States. In the Philippines, more than 6,000 have been infected, with not less than 400 deaths.
The rapid global spread of COVID-19 is due to the lack of decisive actions by governments especially the capitalist countries, like the US, against COVID-19. This exposes the lack of priority for people’s lives and public health to satisfy the immeasurable greed for profit of corporations that produce medicines, hospitals, insurance and others. They instead prioritize military spending.
In the US, an individual needs 35,000 dollars or pHp 1.75 million for treatment of COVID-19, an amount that a regular worker in the US is unable to shoulder, especially those who lost jobs because of the pandemic. With this alone, it is clear that monopoly capitalists want super profits.
In the Philippines, a semicolonial and semifeudal country, it is apparent that the US-Duterte regime lack the preparedness and capability to solve the rapid spread of COVID-19. At the start, it has not implemented any significant step, such as mass testing and contract tracing of those exposed (to the virus).
It is clear that medical services is lacking in the country as this is not a priority of the Duterte government. In the midst of the lack of funds, it has prioritized instead, funding for the AFP and PNP, intelligence and projects that are not beneficial to the people. A large part of this is a source of corruption. Thus, Duterte’s more than P200 billion budget allegedly to help the people during COVID-19, is not enough. Because of widespread government anomalies and corruption, many are denied and have not received (assistance).
Like the Philippines, all governments in the world, including the US, are forced into implementing steps that are “humanitarian” in character. For example, it has set aside budget for “assistance” to workers and ordinary people who lost job opportunities because of the pandemic. But, the truth is that the objective of such steps is not to save the people but to ensure that the workers can continue to toil, for capitalists to continue to rake in profit.
In such conditions, millions of people will protest, but are countered by fascism. In the Philippines, stronger militaristic actions are being used, instead of appropriate health actions. In fact, minor quarantine policy violations of the people in poor communities where people live in small spaces, are being criminalized. Duterte even threatened to “kill those who protest,” short of declaring outright martial law over the whole country. Instead of delivering free medical services, Duterte instead responded with militarization!
While facing the threat of COVID-19, imperialist industries, mines and plantations continue to destroy the environment. In the Philippines, such companies carried on with their operations amidst COVID-19. While towns and cities in the Philippines are quarantined, the entry and exit of a Chinese mining company remain unhampered.
On the other hand, several small anti-imperialist countries like Cuba and Vietnam are effectively controlling the rapid spread of COVID-19. Cuba is actively helping 65 countries affected by COVID-19, including the imperialist country, Italy. There is already an effective treatment used by Cuba for 30 years against the coronavirus, the Interferon Alpha 2b. This should be further studied and developed. But the US is not recognizing this, as Cuba is its enemy.In China, Cuba and China have been helping each other to mass produce Interferon Alpha 2b to fight COVID-19.
Thus, along with celebrating the 50th commemoration of Earth Day, NDFP-NEMR call on the people in the country to unite and demand for the following: (1) Provide food, medicines and free burial services for the dead of all poor Filipino families affected by COVID-19; (2) hasten free mass testing and contract tracing of possible infections for quarantine; and (3) give priority to health services by allocating bigger budget compared to the military budget.
Oppose the destruction of the environment by US imperialism!
Stop destroying forests!
Stop destructive imperialist mining and plantations!
Fight, join the people’s democratic revolution to achieve a socialist society, and truly defend our world!
Ka Maria Malaya
Spokesperson
NDFP-Northeastern Mindanao