The country continues to lose P19.5 billion for every week Metro Manila remains under general community quarantine (GCQ).
Chief implementer of the government’s national policy on Covid-19 Carlito Galvez said this was based from the estimate of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) on the cost of the community quarantine in the country’s capital.
“As to what NEDA has pointed out, for every week, that the community quarantine is imposed in the National Capital Region, around 0.10 to 0.28 percent (percentage points) is being shaved off to the national potential annual GDP growth of 6.5 percent,” Galvez said in a online media briefing on Thursday.
“So, meaning every 0.10 percent (percentage points) is equal to P19.5 billion in lost value added,” he added.
The National Capital Region (NCR) was placed under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) together with entire Luzon from March 16 to May 15, 2020 as part of the government’s attempt to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
The region was then placed under modified ECQ from May 16 to May 31, 2020 before its community quarantine classification was downgraded to GCQ.
Upon the demand of overworked medical workers, NCR’s classification was briefly reverted to MECQ from Aug. 4 to 18, 2020. It was then placed under GCQ again up to the present.
Third phase
As part of the third phase of the National Action Plan (NAP), Galvez said they are now pushing to increase business operation nationwide, particularly NCR, which serves as the country’s economy center.
Under the said phase, he said the government will further strengthen its ‘prevent, detect, isolate, treat and recovery strategy for Covid-19.
“During this phase, we assure the public that there would be no more tradeoffs. Phase 3 will be our transition plan to the new normal from the last quarter of this year rolling down the road towards the first quarter of 2021,” Galvez said.
To facilitate the expansion of business operations in NCR, President Rodrigo R. Duterte called for a Cabinet meeting next Monday.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said NEDA estimates only 50 percent of business operations in NCR have resumed so far.
He said this a problem since 60 percent of the country’s economy are based in the region.
“So we will discuss if can relax [restrictions] so [business operations] in Metro Manila and nearby provinces will reach 75 percent,” Roque said.
Among the measures the government will consider to achieve this is by expanding the capacity of public utility vehicles.
Neda Undersecretary Rosemarie G. Edillon said she is confident of restoration of more business operations in NCR is possible without increasing the risk of Covid-19 spreading to more people after the government improved its health system capacity.
“Provided individuals/businesses comply with the public health standards, we can already restart social and economic activities,” Edillon told BusinessMirror.
Image credits: AP/Aaron Favila