Thrust in Local Governments in the National Capital Region Against COVID-19 and Its Variants: Issues and Good Practices

An estimated 90% of all confirmed COVID-19 cases occur in rural and urban areas around the world, where all industries and sectors have been severely impacted. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted and intensified many of the difficulties and uncertainties local governments face in carrying out their responsibilities. Apart from restoring normalcy, local governments in the National Capital Region face specific challenges, as they must double their efforts and interventions to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as well as restore and reinforce community resilience in both short and long-term response and action. Local government plays a significant role in providing social services in normal times and ensures that these public services are accessible in times of adversity and distress, as well as acting as first responders in disaster prevention, rescue, and restoration. While the world has not yet crossed everyone, and some issues remain unresolved, the author agrees that unprecedented decisions and good practices from neighboring countries should have been taken to protect citizens, especially the most vulnerable. The author examined and reviewed the various mechanisms used by various local governments in Metro Manila, as well as the SDG framework, to analyze the challenges and good practices for local responses to the pandemic and mitigating its effects. The author finds that identifying the challenges faced by various local governments in Metro Manila as well as how they deal with these challenges and recognizing their good practices would aid local governments in long-term sustainability planning and development