Philippines eclipses Indonesia as sick man of Asia

The Philippines’s economy has slid into recession and narrowly eclipsed Indonesia for the highest Covid caseload in the region.

A medic interviews a child for a free COVID-19 test in Manila on Thursday. Picture: Getty Images

The Philippines is once again the sick man of Asia, after its economy officially slid into recession this week and the country narrowly eclipsed Indonesia as the nation with the highest number of COVID-19 cases in the region.

Despite imposing the longest, most draconian lockdown in Southeast Asia, the number of coronavirus cases across the nation has surged dramatically in the past few weeks to more than 120,000 people.

That has forced President Rodrigo Duterte to reimpose a second lockdown on the capital Manila and surrounding areas just as new figures have shown The Philippines economy suffered its deepest contraction on record with gross domestic product in the second quarter shrinking 16.5 per cent — far more severe than the forecast 9.4 per cent drop.

Manila residents queue for free COVID-19 swab testing at a basketball court in Metro Manila’s Navotas city. Picture: Getty Images

The country is suffering from record-high unemployment as millions of migrant workers, whose remittances keep the economy afloat, have lost their jobs and returned home.

If the economic news wasn’t bad enough, on Thursday the country’s COVID-19 caseload passed Indonesia’s despite a population less than half that of its neighbour, though The Philippines’ official mortality rate (2150 deaths) from the pandemic is less than half that of Indonesia (5521).

Some blame The Philippines’ surge in cases on the premature reopening of the economy after 2½ months of lockdown, though the country’s health department said that the rise in cases was partly due to heightened surveillance and increased testing.

The health department said The Philippines’ COVID-19 testing rate was the highest in Southeast Asia, with 1.5 per cent of its population now tested compared to Indonesia’s 0.34 per cent.

Drivers of the Philippines iconic Jeepney taxis queue up to receive food and aid from a concerned resident on a road a Manila road. Picture: AFP

“I think we opened the economy too soon,” Anthony Leachon, a doctor and former adviser to the government’s COVID-19 task force told the Nikkei Asian review. “It should have been gradual and phased. Mobility is a big factor in transmission.”

Indonesia’s numbers have also surged as the government has begun a phased reopening of its economy, with Jakarta’s caseload once again rising and its hospitals filling up. It too posted its worst economic result in 20 years this week, with a second quarter contraction of 5.3 per cent.

The situation in both countries highlights the dilemma faced by many developing nations, trying to balance the need to manage spiralling infections with a need to kickstart tanking economies and keep millions from sliding back into poverty.

The Philippines Medical Association warned last weekend they were “waging a losing battle against COVID-19” and urged Mr Duterte to reimpose a strict lockdown. He did so days later, giving some 27 million people — more than a quarter of the country’s population — 24 hours notice ahead of the “modified restrictions” on Tuesday that have shut businesses and public transport leaving many stranded.