Metro Manila and Calabarzon are due to be placed “as quickly as possible” under the more gentle modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) to boost the economy of the country in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III urged Wednesday.
The Philippine economy was in Metro Manila and Calabarzon as the center of its economy development, Dominguez underlined.
“We have to face the new reality. The reality today is that the virus is not going to go away. And then, we will have to live with it for a long period of time,” Dominguez said.
“You put NCR, Calabarzon — that’s where the economy is based in that area, about 60 percent or 67 percent of our economy is based. It will move as soon as possible back to the MGCQ as people have to keep working, “he said.
COVID-19 Affected the Economy
The finance chief also proposed a concentrated lockout of barangays and businesses with a large number of infections with coronavirus.
“We should be tracking it at a point of barangay to me. The cases go up, just shut it down but do so locally and do it on a company-to-company basis as well. But if the organization just gets a big jump, shut it down, “said Dominguez.
The Philippines began the year with good economic fundamentals, Dominguez said, but the pandemic was rolling.
“By this year before COVID-19 it was going to be an upper middle income country. But, we’re not going to do it,” Dominguez said.
Gyms, cinemas, and other similar establishments under MGCQ have permissions to open their activities at a capacity of 50 percent.
Once quarantine restrictions are downgraded to MGCQ, international business travelers may also be permitted to access the nation.
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