Making Ayuda Really Effective

Picture by Ener Gomez

Relief goods are among solutions we badly need these days, though temporary. But anyone can see how this becomes ineffective if people keep loitering in the streets and the curve remains unflattened. Pretty soon, government would run out of money for ayuda.

A real cure remains to be seen and I think it's going to be a long, arduous process before one is finally made. Claims of finding some cure seem too haphazard at this point and I really doubt their effectiveness. The race to get the 50 million bounty for being first to come up with the vaccine might make things worse despite clinical tests. I mean, things like that are easily susceptible to corruption. It even seems scary to try one that's been made in a hurry. 

So ayuda and the search for cure should be backed up by more strategic solutions.

Now they say the new normal would be the general community quarantine, or GCQ, for quite some time. I'd say for 4 years at least, until Covid 19 becomes just among common curable viruses. Will it get to that? I hope so. But my real worry is the world system that would enforce the GCQ to keep the world "safe." I worry for those who aren't ready.

Anyway, back to ayuda. 

With the gradual reopening of some basic industries and businesses during GCQ to restart the economy, we'd see ayuda dole-outs gradually decreasing, too. And if this is timed well with the gradual transfer of people from the city to the provinces, there's big hope for our economy. I think this is the feasible way out.

Transferring portions of the population to the countryside may seem daunting, but it's really quite easy if a good size of industries and businesses would branch out or relocate there. Then back this up with infrastructure. The process should be shortened to coincide with the strategic reduction of relief goods and social amelioration support.

It's not feasible to go on with merely relief goods, GCQ, and partial lifting of lockdowns while waiting for a Covid cure or vaccine. This should be timed with a partial exodus to rural areas of a sizable chunk of the populace. Since social distancing will be a big part of the new normal, the cities need to decongest. With a more spacious metropolis, it would be easier to implement distancing and other safety protocols.