Gov’t mulls easing lockdown status in some areas to spring back economy

MANILA, Philippines — The government is looking into easing lockdown measures in several areas to revive the economy from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Malacañang said Tuesday.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the Inter-agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases approved the recommendations made by the country’s economic managers on how to balance health and the economy.

“Well, ang approved in principle po eh importanteng mabuksan na ang ekonomiya nang magsimula na po tayo doon sa pagbangon mula sa ating lockdown. Kinakailangan na pong buhayin talaga ang ating ekonomiya,” Roque said in an online briefing.

(What was approved in principle is that it is important to open the economy so that we can start recovering from the lockdown. It’s really important to reopen our economy.)

“Palalakasin po natin ang kumpiyansa ng mga mamamayan na magbalik-trabaho at palakasin ang consumer demand. Paano po ito? Sa pamamagitan po ng testing, malawakang targeted testing,” he added.

(We will boost the confidence of the people to return to work and restore consumer demand. How? Through testing, expanded targeted testing.)

Roque said the IATF also approved the recommendation to consult with local government units of Metro Manila, Region III, and Region IV-A to ease their quarantine status.

The three regions are under general community quarantine where essential businesses are allowed to operate at a limited capacity.

The IATF also approved strengthening measures such as strict enforcement of minimum public health standards, protection of vulnerable populations, maximizing testing, and “full support” of strategic communications.

JPV