NEDA POLLS SECTORS TO DEFINE THE ‘NEW NORMAL’ POST-COVID

THE National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) is conducting online surveys to include in the progress report of the Inter-agency Task Force Technical Working Group for Anticipatory and Forward Planning (IATF-TWG-AFP). Neda Undersecretary for Policy and Planning Rosemarie G. Edillon told the Businessmirror over the weekend that the report aims to define the “new normal” for the country.

The survey consists of two surveys for business owners and consumers, to be followed by two more surveys for industry and services, and another for agriculture and fisheries.

“In any case, we have other sources of information, if recourse of households was done through formal sources,” Edillon said, in ensuring that the progress report will be backed by reliable information.

The progress report from the group is expected to be submitted to the IATF for Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases on April 7 and the final report by April 13, 2020.

The Neda, in a statement on Sunday, said the government is also conducting an online public consultation on defining and preparing for the “new normal” nationwide.

The IATF-TWG-AFP was created through the Iatf-management of Emerging Infectious Diseases Resolution 16 on March 27, 2020. It is chaired by Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia.

“As this pandemic affects various sectors, it is important for us to be able to characterize what this new normal would mean to each and every segment of the population. We are currently crowdsourcing for inputs on how the whole of government can address the challenges the country is facing,” Pernia said.

Pernia said the TWG will recommend programs and strategies to promote confidence in the country’s health systems through data analytics.

The TWG will also recommend programs and strategies to rebuild consumer and business confidence, and recommend policies and programs to adapt to a “new normal” state of economic activities.

“The whole of government will also be ready to adjust plans and implement the necessary interventions as the air of uncertainty is expected to remain with us for some time. We aim for these strategies to cover the most pressing issues and build from there with forward planning as our lens,” said Pernia.

BERNARD TESTA CHAIRS with names of residents are seen outside the gate of an apartment building in Guadalupe Nuevo, Makati City. They are waiting for authorities to put their relief goods on the seats during lockdown.