Are Militarized Lockdowns the Great Equalizer? Evidence from the Philippines

Robust state capacity enables governments to effectively respond and adapt in crisis situations. But in the Philippines where state capacity is relatively weaker and democratic institutions are more fragile, what tools have been used to respond to COVID-19? This chapter illustrates the militarized lockdowns that the Philippine government imposed in early 2020 as a containment and control measure. These lockdowns were shaped by both weak state capacity and crisis managers with authoritarian tendencies, led by a “strongman” head of state. While expansionary fiscal spending during the lockdown was indeed unprecedented, this chapter argues that these were insufficient to prevent the pandemic from disproportionately affecting some groups. Lockdowns did not seem to be a great equalizer as some claim, as sectors such as tourism and retail and demographic subgroups such as the youth have been more adversely affected. Post-pandemic strategies must institutionalize crisis response mechanisms—these provides the Philippines the tools to appropriately manage future crises.