In this timeline, Bulatlat enumerates all attempts to curtail free speech and press freedom while the country is placed under the enhanced community quarantine due to COVID-19 pandemic.

By ALYSSA MAE CLARIN
Bulatlat.com

MANILA– While Article 3 Section 4 of the 1987 Constitution assures that no law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech and of expression, the ‘fake news’ provision under the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act can be used to threaten citizens who air out their grievances and criticism against the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic

The Senate and the House of Representatives simultaneously approved March 24 Bayanihan to Heal as One Act of 2020, granting President Rodrigo Duterte emergency powers to address the current health emergency.

Section 6 (6) of the law penalizes “individuals or groups creating, perpetrating, or spreading false information regarding the COVID-19 crisis on social media and other platforms,” with imprisonment of two months and/or a fine no less than 10,000 pesos.

March 16, 2020: Duterte declares Luzon-wide ‘enhanced community quarantine’ to prevent the coronavirus pandemic to spread further. At the same time, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-IED) orders that journalists  should first secure accreditation from the Presidential  Communications Operations Office (PCOO) within 72 hours in order to enter restricted areas during the quarantine.

March 17, 2020: Journalists, advocates and members of the academe call for the removal of the media accreditation guidelines, and argue that an additional identification is ‘redundant’ and the usual press ID should be enough.

See: NUJP asks Palace to reconsider media accreditation amid COVID-19 outbreak
Academe, media groups urge PCOO to rescind media accreditation

March 21, 2020: Duterte issues Proclamation No. 933 asking the Congress to conduct a special session and deliberate on a proposed bill that would declare a ‘national emergency’ and grant him emergency powers ‘necessary’ to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a similar note, a letter signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea is given to Senate President Vicente Sotto III, asking for the Senate’s own deliberation of the proposed bill.

March 23, 2020: The House of Representatives of the Whole conducts a special session, passing House Bill no. 6616, declaring the country under ‘national emergency’, as well as providing for the executive emergency powers ‘for a limited period and subject to restrictions.’

During the deliberation, netizens reject the idea of granting Duterte emergency powers. Using the hashtag #NoToEmergencyPowers, several netizens point out that approving the proposed bill is an ‘abuse of power’ especially since Duterte has failed to fully utilize existing powers and resources at his disposal.

March 24, 2020: Just a day after getting the approval of the House, the Senate approves Senate Bill no. 1418, or the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act of 2020.

March 26, 2020: Philippine National Police files charges against four individuals who had allegedly shared false information in their social media accounts. All individuals are now facing charges violating the Anti-Cybercrime Law.

March 27, 2020: In General Santos City, a 55-year-old public school teacher Juliet Espinosa is arrested, along with her teenage son, after she posted a statement criticizing the General Santos City mayor’s incompetence. Authorities said that Espinosa is facing charges violating Article 142 of the Revised Penal Code or Inciting to Sedition.

April 1, 2020: National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) issues a subpoena to a Filipino citizen based on a social media post allegedly questioning the government spending.

Human rights lawyer Chel Diokno takes on a case of one of the netizens, and calls out how the government would rather silence critics than deliberate more important matters.

NBI also issues summons to ‘more than a dozen of people’ over their social media posts relating to the coronavirus.

April 2, 2020: During the second episode of Bulatlatan, Josalee Deinla, spokesperson of the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL), say that the constitutionality of the ‘fake news’ provision can be questioned and contested in the Supreme Court.

See: Constitutionality of ‘fake news’ provision can be challenged — lawyer

April 5, 2020: Joshua Molo, editor-in-chief of University of the East Dawn is threatened with libel and forced to do a public apology for posting critical comments about the administration.

(See: Campus editor threatened with libel for criticizing gov’t response on COVID-19)

April 6, 2020: PNP arrests over 32 individuals for allegedly spreading ‘fake news’ in social media.The accused are now facing charges of violating “Unlawful Use of Means of Publication and Unlawful Utterances” under Article 154 of the Revised Penal Code.

April 6, 2020: Armed police storm the community kitchen in Sitio San Roque, and intimidate and question the residents about the program and the placards displayed in the area. Policemen confiscate and tear up the placard of the residents’ call for support and aid during the outbreak.

Vague ‘fake information’ provision will only penalize free speech

Multiple groups question the need and legality of such provision, saying that Section 6 does not even exist legally as fake news is not defined by any existing laws, and approving such provision would leave the contemplation of the ‘crime’ to the hands of the authorities.

See:“Fake news” provision threatens freedom of the press, expression

Digital rights groups also express their concern about this provision, and question the ‘haphazardly approved’ law that penalizes ‘fake news’ under the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act.

“While the provision appears to address the long-standing concern of journalists and activists over false information, which are typically circulated by paid trolling, it can also be used to curtail free speech, especially pieces of information that are critical of the government,” said the groups’ joint statement.

“The damages wrought upon it by fake news prior to the pandemic can only be repaired by promoting critical discourses. Make it healthy by keeping it free.”

April 15, 2020: Students of the University of Sto. Tomas (UST) who spoke against the university’s decision to continue its semester through online classes receive notices from the administration saying that their actions can ‘incur disciplinary action.’

The post TIMELINE: Attacks on free speech, press freedom during COVID-19 lockdown appeared first on Bulatlat.

In a letter submitted to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on April 15, Luis Jalandoni said the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) mounted 13 attacks or assaults against the New People’s Army (NPA) and conducted at least five aerial bombardment and artillery shelling in 96 towns and 196 villages.

By AARON MACARAEG
Bulatlat.com

MANILA – The National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) said that the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) did not cease military operations in the provinces from March 16 until April 15, saying it was a “gross violation of their [GRP] own temporary ceasefire.”

In a letter submitted to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on April 15, Luis Jalandoni said the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) mounted 13 attacks or assaults against the New People’s Army (NPA) and conducted at least five aerial bombardment and artillery shelling in 96 towns and 196 villages, citing reports from the CPP’s Information Bureau.

It was on March 16 upon the announcement of the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine that President Rodrigo Duterte pleaded with the revolutionary forces for a ceasefire due to the COVID-19 pandemic. NDFP chief political consultant Jose Maria Sison, however, said the request then was “premature, if not insincere and false.”

Later, on March 24, the CPP announced a unilateral nationwide ceasefire as a response to Guterres’s call for global ceasefire in order to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. The Communist Party of the Philippines has extended its unilateral ceasefire for 15 days.

NDFP cited that despite the GRP’s efforts to violate the ceasefire, the NPA and their health committees have successfully reached out in all 73 provinces to provide medical aid to communities in the time of the coronavirus pandemic.

Prior to the ending of unilateral ceasefire, the CPP belied People’s Television Network (PTV) news regarding the alleged stealing of donation goods in Balangiga, Eastern Samar.

The state-run broadcasting network published an article on April 10 regarding an alleged robbery of the NPA in Eastern Samar which supposedly took place in Sitio Bangon, Barangay Guinmayohan around 9:00 a.m. of April 7. It cited a press release from the Army’s 801st Infantry Brigade.

But the CPP denied the incident, saying it was “despicable” and “condemnable” for the state forces to produce such stories while being confronted by COVID-19.

The local government of Balanggiga also issued a statement, saying there was no such stealing of donations and that the people have received the relief goods. Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Officer, Judith D. Alde, also posted in her personal Facebook account photos of the relief drive by her office.

AFP ‘business as usual’

In Sagada, anti-communist leaflets were dropped from two military helicopters last April 12. This too, was seen as a violation of ceasefire between GRP and NDFP.

Windel Farag-ey Bolinget of Cordillera People’s Alliance, criticized such military efforts despite the national government’s claims of lack of resources and funds.

Bolinget said elements of the 501st Infantry Battalion encamped in Sagada could have been responsible for the anti-communist leaflets.

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Panlipunan ang karanasan ng pagkalat ng mga epidemya. Kaya tinatawag na epidemya ang sakit ay dahil sa mabilisan itong kumakalat sa mga pamayanan at malawakan ang nagiging bilang ng mga nagkakasakit at namamatay. Ito ang pangunahing dahilan kung kaya ang agaran, kagyat at malawakang pagsasakatuparan ng mga hakbanging pangkalusugan ay nararapat upang maapula agad ito. Mahalaga rito ang organisado, sistematiko at panglahatan ang dapat na mga hakbanging isakatuparan kung nilalayon na mapigil ang pagkahawahan ng mga tao sa mga sakit at maiwasang dumami ang mga namamatay at nagkakasakit.

Panlipunang karanasan ang pagkalat ng epidemya kung kaya kinakailangan din ng koordinadong pagtugon mula sa mga siyentista, pamayanang medikal, pamahalaan, pati na ang mga manunulat na naglalathala ng makatotohanang ulat ukol sa pagkakasakit. Kailangang ang tugon ng mga siyentista at mga propesyonal ng pamayanang medikal upang matiyak na epektibo ang paggagamot at tumatalima sa mga pangkalahatang protocol sa panggagamot. Dahil ang pamahalaan ang may pinakamalawak na rekurso, may kontrol sa mga institusyon, at may kakanyahang magmobilisa ng pondo at mga tauhan sa pag apula ng sakit, ang mga nasa pamahalaan ang inaasahang magsasabalikat ng pagsasakatuparan ng pambayang tugon sa krisis pangkalusugan. Higit sa lahat, kailangan ng sistematikong pagpapahayag ng aktwal na kalagayan ng pagkalat ng epidemya upang matiyak na angkop at sapat ang kaalaman ng mga mamamayan sa mga hakbanging dapat malaman upang maiwasan ang pagkakasakit, at ang mga dapat gawin kung sakaling dumapo ang sakit sa mga tao.

Ang mga suliraning pangkalusugan ng bayan ang isa sa mga hindi pa nabibigyang pansing pag-aralan at kilalanin ng mga historyador bilang kampanyang inilunsad ng mga ilustrado sa kanilang kilusang propaganda at reporma sa huling bahagi ng ika-19 na dantaon. Maraming mga siyentipiko at propesyonal pangmedisina ang kabahagi ng kilusang propaganda. Bukod kay Jose Rizal, nakapagtapos din ng medisina sina Mariano Ponce, Trinidad Pardo de Tavera at Dominador Gomez. Parmasyeutiko si Antonio Luna samantalang inhinyero naman si Edilberto Evangelista. Kahit mula sa oryentasyong makaagham, napasangkot sa kilusang propaganda ang mga siyentipiko at medikong ilustrado at nakapagsulat ng maraming pag-aaral pangmedisina habang kasangkot sa kampanyang pampropaganda at pampolitika. Maraming namangha sa malawakang pag-aaral ni Antonio Luna ukol sa malaria. Itinuring na ama ng optalmolohiya sa Pilipinas si Jose Rizal. Ang mga pag-aaral ukol sa mga halamang gamot at katutubong pamamaraan ng pag-apula ng sakit ang ilan sa mga impluwensyal na pag aaral na inilathala ni Trinidad Pardo de Tavera. Hindi lamang bilang mga Asyanong rebolusyonaryo kundi bilang kapwa doktor ang naging batayan ng pagiging malapit na magkaibigan nina Mariano Ponce at Sun Yat sen.

Isa sa mga di gaanong nabibigyang pansin ang panulat ni Dominador Gomez at ang kontribusyon nito sa kasaysayan ng Pilipinas. Sa maraming pagkakataon, nababanggit lamang ang kanyang pangalan sa pamamagitan ng pagkakaugnay niya sa kanyang tiyuhing pari na si Padre Mariano Gomez, na ginarote nang bata pa siya; o ang paghimok niya kay Macario Sakay na tanggapin ang alok na amnestiya ng mga Amerikano upang matuloy ang halalan sa Pambansang Asembleya ng 1907.

Mahalaga ang papel na ginampanan ni Dominador Gomez sa iba ibang yugto ng kasaysayan ng Pilipinas. Habang nag-aaral hanggang sa makapagtapos ng medisina sa Espanya, naging kasangkot siya sa pag-oorganisa ng Asociacion Hispano-Filipino kasama sina Miguel Morayta, Graciano Lopez Jaena, Marcelo H. del Pilar at Antonio Luna. Naging regular na manunulat din siya sa La Solidaridad. Kagaya ni Isabelo de los Reyes, naimpluwensyahan din siya ng ilang kaisipang maka-manggagawa. Kaya nang bumalik siya sa Pilipinas, naging aktibo siya sa kilusang manggagawa at namuno sa Union Obrera Democratica matapos si Isabelo de los Reyes. Dahil sa kanyang pamumuno sa kilusang unyonismo, kinakitaan ng ilan sa pinakamalawakang welga ng manggagawa. Sa kanyang pamumuno din naganap ang ilan sa pinakamalakihang protesta ng mga manggagawa sa Araw ng Paggawa – bagay na naglagay sa kanya sa masamang pagturing ng mga Ameriikano.

Sa unang pagkakasangkot pampulitikal, naging mahalaga ang kanyang mga sinulat sa lathalaing La Solidaridad, ang opisyal na pahayagan ng Kilusang Reporma at Propaganda. Kasama ng ilang ilustrado, mababasa ang ilan sa mga sanaysay at kasulatang iniambag niya patungkol sa kalagayan ng pampublikong kalusugan sa Pilipinas. Sa mga unang taon pa lamang ng La Solidaridad, makikita na ang ilang sanaysay pangsiyentipiko at medikal na sinulat ng mga ilustrado. Sa kanyang pangalang panulat na Ramiro Franco, tinalakay ni Dominador Gomez ang ilang usaping kaugnay ng kalusugang pambayan, na mababasa sa kanyang sanaysay ukol sa mga Kamatayang Dulot ng Epidemya. Sa ilang bahagi nito, sinabi niya na

Kung dito sa Madrid, maibubunton ang sisi nang walang pasubali sa kakulangan at pagpapabaya na katangiang parati nang ipinapakita ng mga namumuno, doon sa Maynila, higit na hindi mapapasubalian na maaaring idagdag pa na sanhi ng mga idinudulot na kamatayan ang maituturing nang krimen ng pagsasaisantabi ng mga nasa kapangyarihan sa mga kalakaran ng kalinisan dahil sa kapabayaan at kawalan ng interes na maisakatuparan ito.

… hindi man lamang inilalapat ang lahat ng maaaring hakbang upang maapula ang pagdapo ng sakit sa mga libu-libong mga mamamayan at pinapayagang kumalat ito bilang epidemya, na nagiging endemiko na sa lugar katagalan, matapos malawakang makapaminsala sa lipunan. Pagkatapos noon, sisisihin ang kalagayan ng bayan at ng kapaligiran sa pagkalat ng sakit, gayong sa katunayan, bunga ang paglala nito sa kakulangan ng kaalaman pati na ang pagpapabayang suportahan ang mga naatasang dapat magbigay ng kagyat na lunas para dito.

Sa maraming pagkakataon, muling ibinubunton ang sisi sa dati nang linya na kasalanan ng mga walang alam at ignorante, at mga binabansagang filibustero at kalaban ng bayan. Alalahanin natin ang sinambit ni Rizal sa pagtalakay ng kaparehong kalagayan; “Kinakalimutan ko ang ganitong mga sagabal!” Oo, kailangan nating kalimutan ang mga balakid na ito at marapat nating ipahayag ang ating malayang kaalaman, at dahil naaapektuhan tayo ng panaghoy ng pagdurusa at sakit na nararanasan ng sangkatauhan, kinakailangan nating ipahayag ang ating kritisismo at pagpuna nang walang takot, na nakatutok sa mga opisyal ng kapuluan ng Pilipinas

Samantala, nangangamatay ang mga mamamayan at ang mga doktor ang kailangang kumaharap sa pagkakamali ng mga nasa pamahalaan; naglalathala ng mga artikulo (ukol sa sakit) ang mga may kaalaman subalit hindi ito pinapansin dahil hindi ito nauunawaan ng mga namamahala; pinupula ang bayan at sinisisi ang kanyang klima; sumasabay ang kawalan ng ginagawa at ang pagkapalalo at kayabangan ng mga namumuno sa absolutismo at despotismo na naglalason sa moral at materyal na buhay ng mga mamamayan; habang kumakalat ang mga mikrobyo ng tipus, ng kolera, ng tuberculosis, ng sipilis at iba pang sakit na tila espada ni Damocles na nakatutok sa ating ulunan; nakahalukipkip lang at nakukuha pang ngumiti na tila nasisiyahan ang mga namumuno, na lalong kinakitaan ng katamaran, na walang ibang iniisip kundi ang paano makaakyat pa sa pwesto ng kapangyarihan, sa hinaharap, na buong galak at akalang pinaniniwalaan ang sarili na marangal nilang nagawa ang kanilang gawain bilang mararangal na tao. (Pagsasalin sa akin. FG)

Sa panahon pa lamang ng mga ilustrado, ipinakita na ang kahalagahan ng pagbibigay ng sapat at angkop na impormasyon bilang bahagi ng pagtugon sa pagkalat ng mga sakit, lalo na sa panahon ng epidemya. Subalit sa halip na maging bukas sa pagpapahayag sa aktwal na kalagayan ng bayan sa usaping pangkalusugan, binansagan pa ng mga nasa pamahalaan ang mga naglalathala ng katotohanan bilang mga filibustero at kalaban ng bayan. Hindi naging bukas sa paggamit ng mga siyentipikong pag-aaral, ginamit lamang ng mga nasa pamahalaan ang mga hakbanging despotiko at absolustimo nang hindi tumatanggap at sarado sa ibang ideya. Pinupula at sinisi pa ng mga autoridad ang mga karaniwang mamamayan pati na ang klima at lagay ng kalikasan ng kapuluan at hindi tumatanggap ng anumang responsibilidad sa kakulangan ng kanilang ginawa. Habang walang ginagawa, buong tamad at pagpapabaya lamang na nakahalukipkip na inuutusan ang mga mediko at doktor na siyang maglapat ng lunas sa mga maysakit. Ginagamit nila ang mga programang pangkalusugan hindi para masugpo ang epidemya at pagkalat ng sakit, kundi upang mailagay ang sarili sa posibleng higit na mataas na pwestong pampamahalaan sa hinaharap.

Ayon kay Dominador Gomez at iba pang mga mamamahayag sa kasaysayan, nagsisilbing balakid ang mga panggigipit ng mga nasa pamahalaan sa pag-apula sa mga suliranin ng bayan. Magkagayunman, binibigyang diin pa ring mahalaga ang pagpuna at kritisismo, ang pagpapahayag ng malayang kaisipan, sa pagpapahayag ng katotohanan at paghahanap ng lunas sa sakit na nararanasan ng sangkatauhan. Marami pang kailangang balikan sa mga aral at pahayag ng kasaysayan. Marami pang sulatin mula sa mga itinuring na mga filibustero ang kailangang balikan.

Ref.
Franco, Ramiro (Dominador Gomez). 1890. “Deaths Owing to Epidemics”, La Solidaridad, II, 42, October 31, 1890.

Kerkvliet, Melinda Tria. 1992. Manila Workers’ Unions, 1900-1950. Quezon City: New Day.

Schumacher, John. 1997. The Propaganda Movement, 1880-1895. Quezon City: Ateneo de Manila University Press.

*The author is a professor and former chair of the Department of History, Ateneo de Manila University; former commissioner of the National Historical Commission; convenor of Tanggol Kasaysayan; member of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers. He finished his AB History, MA in History and PhD in Philippine Studies at University of the Philippines Diliman.

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“International human rights law guarantees everyone the right to the highest attainable standard of health and obligates governments to take steps to provide medical care to those who need it. Now more than ever, we need to ensure health care access is available to all in the time of COVID-19 pandemic.”

By AUBREY SC MAKILAN
Bulatlat.com

RED DEER, Alberta — Over 125 frontline workers have raised their voices urging the Alberta government to include everyone in its fight against corona virus disease (COVID-19).

In a petition letter entitled “Health Care for All” led by migrant support and advocacy group Migrante-Alberta, doctors, nurses, social workers, educators and other healthcare providers call for health coverage for those potentially vulnerable to the disease but without access to health care because of immigration status. The petition is addressed to Alberta Premier Jason Kenney and Health Minister Tyler Shandro.

Petitioners urged the Alberta government to ensure COVID-19 that assessment centres have an explicit policy to be free and accessible to all, regardless of immigration status; to recognize that existing health care pathways such as community clinics and hospitals must be free and accessible to all people, and work to remove barriers such as registration fees and bills.

They also call for the implementation of appropriate staff training; development of a clear and explicit public messaging campaign to inform people that assessment and care is available to all residents, without charge, at COVID-19 centres and beyond.

Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Deena Hinshaw announced yesterday that anyone with the primary COVID-19 symptoms, which include a fever, cough, shortness of breath, runny nose or sore throat, in Alberta will now have access to testing. Hinshaw also said that when sufficient equipment and chemicals to conduct swab tests, serology and blood tests are received, Alberta Health Services’ goal is to increase daily testing capacity from 7,400 to 9,000 lab tests by the end of April, and about 20,000 daily tests by mid-May.

Marco Luciano, director of the Filipino organization Migrante Alberta, however said that it is not clear if “anyone” includes even those who do not have current immigration status. “If the messaging is clear and inclusive, that would be the only time those in fear would feel comfortable to come out not only to access testing but also seek medical attention, if needed,” he said.

There are more than 100,000 Filipinos in Alberta.

Safety of all

While most Albertans receive public health orders with a projection of the virus peaking by mid-May, there are still many who fear they might contract the disease while having no immigration status in Canada, which makes them ineligible for basic health care services.

The uninsured population include newly-landed permanent residents, temporary foreign workers (TFWs), international students, and undocumented residents. Calgary-based epidemiologist Dr. Mukararram Ali Zaidi said that during a pandemic, “we should be able to provide healthcare for all.” Recognizing that people experiencing symptoms associated with the virus will seek care through community clinics and hospitals, Zaidi stressed that these sites must also be free and accessible to all.

COVID-19 has become a public health emergency in Canada. Petitioners said that uninsured individuals in Canada are often denied access to care and can face insurmountable debt.

“We are deeply concerned about these pre-existing barriers to health care for uninsured individuals in Canada, specifically in Alberta and the potential public health implications in the context of a pandemic. As a group of health care providers and community members, we call on all levels of government, health institutions, and public health leaders to act now to ensure care for everyone,” the petition read.

Calgary family physician Dr. Jillian Ratti stressed that including uninsured people is not only a correct moral policy position but a necessary action to ensure that our entire population is able to effectively fight this virus. “To deny healthcare to migrants is to cruelly devalue their lives during this unprecedented threat to human health and also to put the lives of other Canadians at risk,” said Ratti. “If we don’t treat absolutely everyone, our public health response is weakened and endangers the lives of us all.”

Luciano asserted that the “international human rights law guarantees everyone the right to the highest attainable standard of health and obligates governments to take steps to provide medical care to those who need it.” He added, “Now more than ever, we need to ensure health care access is available to all in the time of COVID-19 pandemic.”

A registered nurse in Calgary, Martin Gatan warned that “we do not want what is happening in the United States right now, citing reports that the Trump administration policies discourage immigrants from coming forward, which could hamper efforts to contain the epidemic.”

Fell through the cracks

Luciano calls for compassion, instead of racism and prejudice against undocumented and uninsured migrants in Canada. “Most of them just fell through the cracks of the immigration system and politics despite all their efforts to comply with the requirements for permanent residence,” he said.

Lynn (not her real name) came to Canada in 2010 as a restaurant and bakery manager in Ontario under the Temporary Foreign Workers Program. She was given a six-month contract but was laid off after only three months. After being unemployed for a year, an opportunity brought her to Edmonton, Alberta in November 2011 as a store supervisor, then as a manager for two years until 2014.

Lynn recalled she was put in graveyard shifts until three a.m. when bus service was no longer available. “I had to wait until six in the morning for the first bus to come,” she said. She added that she would be booked often at 10 o’clock the same day without adequate rest in between shifts. “As a store manager, I was often understaffed. It was really stressful,” she said. She was forced to resign after her request for transfer to another branch was denied. She found a new employer in December 2014. While waiting for a new work permit from the government, she got pregnant and gave birth to her daughter in September 2015. By this time, her health coverage had expired.

Lynn stressed, “We do not want to be a burden to the Canadian economy. We were once part of the active members of the Canadian society who worked diligently, contributed to the economy, paid all taxes and hoped to eventually get our permanent residence. We have worked night and day to show our utmost desire to eventually be part of the Canadian society.”

Edward, another undocumented TFW, lost his status in 2017 and has been working secretly since.

“In this time of pandemic, all we ask for is for the Province of Alberta to be inclusive of everyone needing health care,” said Vanesa Ortiz, an advocate from the Mexican Association of Calgary, adding that since these undocumented migrants are excluded from the financial assistance from the federal government, their desperate desire to continue working in time of pandemic for their daily survival makes them more vulnerable to contract the disease.

Solidarity

The provinces of BC, Ontario and Quebec have already announced they will cover the cost of COVID-19 services for uninsured people who do not meet the criteria of the provinces’ respective health care coverages.

Alberta currently has more than 1,800 confirmed cases, more than 900 of which are active cases. Alberta is facing an unprecedented national public health crisis, said Luciano, citing possibly a million infections, with deaths between 500 and 6,600 by the end of August as the province projected an “elevated scenario.”

“Let us ensure that the safety of Albertans will not be at risk because others are discouraged from seeking screening or treatment for COVID-19 for financial reasons,” said Ortiz. “This pandemic should not divide us but bring us together, stronger.”

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