MANILA, Philippines — A COVID-19 response for industries and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) is already underway, President Rodrigo Duterte’s sixth report to Congress released Monday said.
The National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) are working on proposals covering efforts to cushion the effects of the pandemic, the report said.
According to the report, the following matters were discussed in a meeting scheduled Monday: “(1) strengthening healthcare, safety systems, and capacities to response to COVID-19 through production activities; (2) supporting the recovery of the economy through MSME growth and resilience; and (3) socio-economic impact assessment and industrial policy advice.”
The NEDA is also studying UNDP’s COVID-19 integrated response which offers to support countries in responding across the “pre-surge, surge, and recovery phases.”
Further, a technical paper “We Recover as One” on the government’s response against COVID-19, has been circulated among members of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Infectious Diseases for review.
“The IATF shall share said paper with other government agencies and the Congress as a working paper for initiatives to rebuild consumer and business confidence as well as possible basis for the 2021 Budget Priorities Framework,” the report said.
Earlier, President Rodrigo Duterte ordered Acting NEDA Secretary Karl Chua to study a COVID-19 recovery plan for the country’s economy.
Businesses, big or small, were shuttered by the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine excluding essential establishments like those related to food, medicine, health care, and the like.
But upon the imposition of general community quarantine in low-risk areas for the coronavirus transmission, several businesses excluding those involved in leisure and entertainment were allowed to reopen provided that physical distancing is observed.
As of Monday, there are 9,485 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 623 fatalities and 1,315 recoveries.