In the Philippines, the consequences have been severe not only for vulnerable sectors but also for an entire population that previously had confidence in its ability to deal with pandemics and disasters. Located in Southeast Asia, the Philippines is an archipelago made up of more than 7,100 islands. The estimated population for the middle of 2020 is 110 million, which is expected to continue to increase slightly. Notwithstanding a downward trend in population growth and fertility rate, the country is still one of the most densely populated in Southeast Asia and even in the entire Asia‐Pacific region. The downward trend in growth rate is attributed to an aging population, the diminishing birth rate and poor health care. The Philippines has a high tuberculosis prevalence and it is among the countries with a high probability of death from noncommunicable diseases. It has an average Human Development Index rating.1 Pletcher, H. (2020, May 21). Total Population of the Philippines 2024. Statista. Retrieved August 24, 2020, from, https://www.statista.com/statistics/578726/total‐population‐of‐philippines/