‘SERIOUSLY DAMAGED’ | Philippines can’t afford another week of ECQ, warns DTI

April 8, 2021 , 01:24 PM

(April 8, 2021) – The economy was already recovering gradually even before the reimposition of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Metro Manila and neighboring provinces, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said on Thursday, thumbing down another possible extension of the strict lockdown.

DTI secretary Ramon Lopez said numbers based on the previous months showed an improvement in the country’s economy, although he admitted that ECQ will have adverse effects on employment.

“‘Yung TMI (Total Market Index), naka-recover na. Over 50 is the benchmark and we have reached 52 for the past two or three months so mag-recover na talaga ‘yon,” said Lopez in an interview with One News’ Agenda. “However, these past few weeks, because of the ECQ, Metro Manila and NCR (National Capital Region) Plus affected again mga business diyan. Ang worry lang natin dito ay ‘yung ating employment but ‘yung sa economy in general, going up na sana pero with this, I’m sure mahihinto ulit to, mag-slow down ulit.”

Last March 27, President Rodrigo Duterte placed Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, and Bulacan under ECQ for a week in a bid to stop the rising COVID-19 infections in the country.

The supposedly one-week ECQ, however, was extended for another week after recommendations by health groups and the Inter-Agency Task Force.

The Philippine College of Physicians has already called for another week of ECQ to “prevent the collapse of the healthcare system” amid the continued spike in COVID-19 cases, which has led to overcapacity in hospitals and lack of manpower.

Lopez, however, stressed the country cannot afford to place areas under ECQ anymore, saying tourism has already been “seriously damaged” by the strict lockdown.

“We cannot continue to be on ECQ for a long time kaya what we’re looking at is a gradual movement towards the opening pa of the next level sector that is low-risk,” said Lopez. “Isa sana ‘yung tourism sa nagre-recover na rin as we are allowing staycation and mobility of people, nakakalipat na sa iba’t ibang probinsya but again, this ECQ, hinto ulit lahat ‘yun.”

The Malacañang already said President Rodrigo Duterte isn’t keen on extending the ECQ for another week.

With the threat of COVID-19 variants still looming in the country, Lopez said the DTI may have to change protocols on which businesses can soon reopen.

“A lot of indoor activities na hindi naman high-risk but with the new strain, may pagkadelikado sa ngayon. So if ever we’ll re-open, baka ‘yung indoor operations sa mga restaurants, unless magawan talaga ng re-engineering dito baka they might be kept closed muna,” said Lopez. “I think mas marami pa muna ang magsasara or slow down, especially ‘yung affected pa ‘yung certain sectors that would really be hit hard or are already hit hard.”

(Kiko Demigillo/PM)

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