By Dana Eunise Cruz

Despite the danger of the pandemic and difficult situations, millions of health care workers continue to work and risk their lives to save others.

These sacrifices don’t just end in them reporting to work amid a pandemic, but also sweating under layers of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) in hours-long hospital shifts.

As of December 2020, more than 13,000 health care workers have already been infected by the virus, said a report from ABS-CBN News. At one point, they made up one in every five COVID-19 cases in the country.

Meanwhile, the number of health workers who passed away due to the illness reached at least 76. …

By Audrey Garin and Benidict Prodon

The COVID-19 pandemic has called for an immediate response to protect the physical health of the people. But this is not the case for the 51-year-old mother-of-three, Doctor of Philosophy, and psychologist Dr. Maria Isabel Lemen. For her, the pandemic has brought up another surge of need, the need to protect the mental health of the people.

Dr. Lemen, who started in this profession in her 40s and is currently working under the Center of Psychological Extension and Research Services (COPERS) and in her personal clinic, highlighted that the psychology and the mental health field have been encountering challenges lately with the increase of mental health-related concerns brought about by the pandemic. …

By Janelle Boquida and Kristian Rivera

When the COVID-19 pandemic started, we were forced to feel like outliers to our friends and family. The pandemic had taught everyone around the world to become strong and to activate resilience in humankind. The world was in chaos because of the pandemic.

We are still isolated in our homes and we are still given the restrictions of going out and interacting with people.

Mental health issues have doubled and rose when the COVID-19 took over the globe. …

By Robert JA Basilio Jr.

Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism

The Duterte government is pushing for a bill cutting the corporate income tax in exchange for strict limits to tax perks enjoyed by investors. Economists however warn against eroding the revenue base at a time of a pandemic, when funds are needed the most.

What you need to know about this story:

● A proposed law will cut income tax rates to help companies preserve jobs during the pandemic.

● The bill will also remove the special 5% gross earnings tax enjoyed in perpetuity by investors.

● The Philippines is at the bottom half of an index measuring inequality, indicating lower spending for social protection. …

By Benidict Prodon and Audrey Garin

Since the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) was enforced, a huge number of people were displaced from their jobs. However, government staff like Paulo Dela Rama continued to work under the threat of being infected with COVID-19.

Paulo Dela Rama is a tourism staff member in the City of Meycauayan, Bulacan.

He works under the City History Arts Culture and Tourism Council (CHACTC), which is responsible for conserving historical places and promoting its rich history for people to learn.

However, tourism went dark as ECQ was placed. It restricted leisure and any outside activities. …

By Janelle Boquida and Kristian Rivera

To serve the people for security and peace is one of the given priorities of police men. These people spend miles away from their families, in order to serve the country. They currently serve in the frontlines during this COVID-19 pandemic.

Police Corporal Bartolome Bangibang has been with the police for eight years in the same position.

Chief Bangibang, as he is known, has three kids and a wife currently residing in Tuguegarao, Cagayan. On the first time that they heard about the news on the pandemic, he was already frightened by the idea of catching the virus, which can infect his family and fellow police men. …

Isinulat nila Phoebe de Leon at April Evangelista

Sa panahong abot-kamay lamang ng mga tao ang iba’t ibang pinanggagalingan ng impormasyon, hindi na gaanong katagal bago tayo makarinig ng samu’t-saring balita ukol sa pinagmulan ng krisis na ating hinaharap.

Bago pa man tuluyang sumiklab ang sakit na COVID at naging pandemya, mayroon na tayong ideya na may paparating upang baguhin ang ating pamumuhay. May ilang sineryoso ang balita habang may ibang hindi naniwala’t nag-akalang ganito ang kalalabasan.

Tulad ng nakararami, sa social media’t telebisyon unang narinig ni Patrolman John Tadeo ang balita ng mga taong na-oospital dahil sa kakaibang sakit na nanggaling sa Tsina. …

By Coleen Danielle Natividad

Edited by Phoebe de Leon

Whenever I think of transportation partners in cities, I think of them as necessities for the city to be fully functional. Transportation partners bring people to their desired destinations, may it be taxi drivers, bus drivers, or even jeepney drivers — none of them are more important than the others.

Having the least income, jeepney drivers are the target of youth organizations in Cebu being one of the most affected groups of people during this pandemic. Thus, Project TsuperHero was born out of initiative by the youth of Cebu.

Two organizations are behind the project, namely ROTARACT (Rotary in Action) and the Junior Philippine Institute of Chemical Engineers, CIT-University Chapter (JPICHE). The group also plans to extend their project to other organizations that can support them. Their main beneficiary is Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (PISTON) Cebu whose families would be receiving relief packs and face masks for their daily needs and livelihood starter packs for them to be able to start another stream of income. The project group’s target amount is 100,000 pesos to cater to the needs of the PISTON families. …