ACTING Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua on Monday evening, February 15, 2021, recommended that quarantine restrictions be eased further throughout the country and all areas be placed under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) in March to boost the economy.
“Iyong aking ibabahagi ‘yong kailangan po natin mag-shift sana sa lalong madaling panahon to MGCQ for the entire Philippines. Sana starting March 1, 2021 para i-address po ‘yong hunger or ‘yong mataas na antas ng mga Pilipino po na nagugutom,” Chua said in his presentation to President Rodrigo Duterte Monday.
He said the government’s quarantine restrictions since March 2020 resulted in a total income loss of P1.04 trillion last year, with an average daily loss of P2.8 billion.
On average, the annual income loss for every worker is P23,000 per worker, Chua said, noting that since the government restricted some sectors from operating, many workers lost their jobs.
Losing jobs impacted on workers’ income as well as on their livelihood, he said.
“So ang recommendation po namin ay dapat ibalanse po natin (our recommendation is there should be a balance between the economy and our Covid-19 response),” he said.
Among the recommendations is to place the entire country under MGCQ, especially the National Capital Region (NCR) starting March 21, to lessen sickness, hunger, poverty, job and income losses arising from non-Covid cases.
Chua suggested using localized lockdown in the barangay or municipal levels to address the local spread of the coronavirus.
The government should also open more public transport routes with proper safeguards to help workers and expand public transport capacity to 75 percent from the current 50 percent.
Inter-province bus operation must be augmented and bike lanes must also be set up to help workers using alternative forms of transportation.
The government should also allow more people to go out by expanding the age group allowed in public places. This must be done, however, with corresponding safeguards, according to Chua.
“Iyong safeguard naman, puwede lang lumabas ‘yong kabataan with their parents only, or initially, they can go out to more open areas at hindi naman ibig sabihin na pupunta sila sa malls,” he said.
“Pero kung puwede pong lumabas ‘yong kabataan with safeguards, it will allow also their parents to work and get a job,” he added.
At present, only those aged 15 to 65 are allowed in public places. Chua suggested for a gradual expansion to allow those from five to 70 years old to go out.
Citing a November Pulse Asia survey, Chua said 73 percent of those surveyed said the government has to balance the opening of the economy and the control of the virus.
“So hindi po naman natin sinasabi na ibukas lang natin ‘yong ekonomiya at huwag na nating pakialaman ‘yong COVID cases kailangan po natin both,” he said.
“At nakita po natin na nagbukas po tayo last October at ‘yong dumaan po ‘yong Christmas vacation, hindi po naman umakyat ‘yong Covid cases,” he added.
The recommendations of the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda), which Chua heads as acting director general, have been approved by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.
Chua hoped that the President will also approve the proposal. (SunStar Philippines from PR)