Today, April 12, marks what would have been the end of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) implemented last March 16 in Luzon and select provinces in Visayas in Mindanao as a desperate attempt to contain the spread of COVID-19. But with mass testing to detect infected individuals yet to be done, with the number of COVID-19 positive cases still rising, and with community transmission remaining a real threat, the Philippine government last week announced its decision to extend the ECQ for at least another two weeks.

Since the first of its cases were reported over three months ago, COVID-19 has reached almost every country in the world, infected over a million individuals, and caused the death of about 100,000. Governments left and right have thus made extreme measures to address the disease, often at the cost of exacerbating the vulnerabilities of the poorest and most marginalized.

In the Philippines, the implementation of the ECQ, coupled with the suspension of mass transportation and forced closure of many non-essential service establishments, was unfortunately welcomed with a lack of preparation among national and local authorities of mechanisms to absorb the shock that such extreme measures would bring.

The lack of income and access to basic necessities that this brought has amplified poverty and hunger among many Filipino families, including residents of communities who have stood with us at the forefront of the fight against dirty energy and ecological injustice. With the extension of the community quarantine, these same families would have to wait at least two more weeks before they are able to make a living again, and much longer after that to get back on their feet.

As an effort to aid our partners and other families in need, the Center for Energy, Ecology, and Development (CEED) is initiating a donation drive to support relief efforts in affected communities. As a start, members of the CEED team have pooled a total of Php 118,000 of personal donations as of April 12, 2020.

We are appealing to your kind hearts to extend your help, so that we may be able to help more of them. For years now, we have joined together to fight for people-centered development, a just response to the climate emergency, and for clean energy for all. As we face another crisis in the form of COVID-19, let us join hands again to aid our people in need.

If you wish to support this initiative, cash donations may be transferred or deposited to:

To reach our communities in need, CEED has partnered with Oplan Hatid Laban sa COVID, a transportation and delivery service initiative formed by various environmental and civil society organizations which mobilizes volunteer drivers to cater to needs of healthcare and essential service workers, donors, and other affected sectors, and Bulig Pilipinas, a national relief, rehabilitation, and adaptation solidarity network, and .

For inquiries: