MALACAÑANG on Tuesday said the country is losing P18 billion daily because of the new round of modified enhance community quarantine (MECQ) in Metro Manila and its surrounding areas.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque made the statement on Tuesday to stress how the government can no longer afford to implement a monthlong ECQ.
“For Metro Manila, the estimate is that not lower than P18 billion is lost per day of MECQ. This will be higher if it was placed under ECQ,” Roque said.
The National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) earlier said at least 25 percent of the country’s economy became nonoperational when NCR and its surrounding areas were placed under MECQ.
In areas under MECQ, public transportation is banned and business operations are limited.
Aside from an MECQ’s economic costs, Roque said the government no longer has any additional funds for now to provide additional cash aid to people who will be affected by the MECQ or ECQ.
The National Capital Region (NCR), Bulacan, Laguna, Cavite and Rizal were placed under MECQ from August 4 to 18 to allow the medical workers in these areas to rest and to give time for the government to improve its measures against Covid-19.
But while unlikely, Roque said President Duterte may still opt to impose an ECQ or extend the MECQ in NCR depending on the utilization rate of critical care in the region, as well as case doubling rate of novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
He said the government acknowledges that the most effective way to stop the spread of Covid-19 is to declare a long ECQ or MECQ.
“The problem is we no longer have [funds] for assistance. And if people will not be allowed to go to work, they may die from not having a livelihood,” Roque said.
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