ABSTRACT
This chapter systematically collated and critically analyzed the practices, technologies, and innovations in the Philippines’ response to the COVID-19 pandemic from January to May 2020. The first part provided an overview of the State’s response to the outbreak and the evolution of its case categorization. The second part discussed the practices and tech-based innovations in the country’s health response: (a) the turn from traditional to new media reporting, (b) the utilization of website and App-based contact tracing mechanisms, and (c) the application of telemedicine and online health consulting. Meanwhile, the last part analyzed the role of technology and innovation in managing the COVID-19 outbreak. The authors argue that while technology-based innovations promote resource efficiency, people under poverty and those who do not have access to these technologies should be capacitated and aided by government institutions to ensure that no one is left behind in its COVID-19 response, in particular, and in strengthening public health in general.
