MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) on Saturday defended the proposal to shift to the most relaxed modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) status by March, saying that there will also be health consequences should the economy suffers during the pandemic.
“It is the direction of the government. Nakaisang taon na po tayo ng very strict lockdown and we have to look at the other side of the fence and that is our economy, nakikita naman po natin. And there are also health consequences for a poor economy. Kaya binabalanse din natin yan,” Health Undersecretary Rosario Vergeire said over the televised Laging Handa press conference, when asked about the government’s proposal to shift to MGCQ despite some cities reporting an increase in Covid-19 cases.
(We already went through a year of strict lockdown, we should look at the economy. There are also health consequences for a poor economy so let’s balance that.)
The national government’s task force as well as the mayors of Metro Manila have approved the proposal to shift to MGCQ next month. The proposal will then be submitted to President Rodrigo Duterte for the final decision.
(FILE) MARKET DAY The Baguio public market is among the busiest areas in the city as vegetables harvested from farms in Benguet province are traded here daily. The local government has started securing Covid-19 vaccines for residents as the city’s tourism-dependent economy tries to recover business losses due to the pandemic. —EV ESPIRITU
Meanwhile, Vergeire called on local government units (LGUs) to “step up” and intensify “surveillance efforts” to prevent a surge in Covid-19 cases when the shift to MGCQ happens.
“Ang ating safeguard diyan, kung sakali magkaroon ng shift into the lower level of quarantine measures, ay ang ating local government magkakaroon ng sari sariling response, where they have better surveillance […] so that they can appropriately manage if ever and control number of cases,” Vergeire said.
(Our safeguard is our local government’s own response where they will have better surveillance to manage and control cases.)