MGCQ tackled next week — Malacañang

I am part of those in the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases who voted for the proposal to recommend to the President the further easing of our economy

President Rodrigo Duterte would review the country’s economic managers’ proposal to put the entire Philippines under a less restrictive modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) next month, the Palace said Tuesday.

Presidential spokesperson Secretary Harry Roque said the chief executive would discuss next week with his Cabinet the suggestion raised by Acting Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua, who cited the need to ease business restrictions to generate more jobs and spur economic growth.

“The President is carefully studying this recommendation. He said he wants to take up this matter in the next Cabinet meeting on the 22nd of this month,” Roque said in a news conference.

The Palace official backed Chua’s suggestion, saying it is time to save “our countrymen from hunger and poverty.”

The President is carefully studying this recommendation. He said he wants to take up this matter in the next Cabinet meeting on the 22nd of this month.

He also expressed confidence that the public would comply with the minimum health standards against Covid-19 such as mask-wearing and physical distancing should the entire country shift into MGCQ.

“I am part of those in the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases who voted for the proposal to recommend to the President the further easing of our economy,” Roque said.

Chua, during the televised meeting of the pandemic task force Monday night, pushed for a nationwide MGCQ, saying that the quarantine restrictions imposed since March last year resulted in a total income loss of P1.04 trillion, with an average daily loss of P2.8 billion.

I am part of those in the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases who voted for the proposal to recommend to the President the further easing of our economy.

The country’s top economist also cited a November Pulse Asia poll which showed that 73 percent of respondents said the government should balance the opening of the economy and Covid-19 control.

He also proposed to open more public transport routes, adding that public transport capacity should be expanded from 50 percent to 75 percent.

The government should also allow more people to go out by expanding the age group allowed in public places, Chua said.

Chua underscored the need to place Metro Manila, which accounts for about 60 percent of the country’s gross domestic product, to a more relaxed MGCQ to allow more businesses to operate.