Hunger, malnutrition outstrip Covid cases
JOBLESSNESS MAIN CAUSE
What is alarming is the rise of diseases linked to malnutrition and hunger, and stunted growth affecting children’s intelligence, as 1.6 million Filipinos are still jobless
Spikes in incidents of hunger and the malnutrition rate have trailed the 1.6 million Filipinos who have lost their jobs or have yet to return to work due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The numbers, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez on Thursday said, should be enough reasons to push the relaxation of the community quarantine rules as Covid-19 cases had been surpassed by malnutrition-related diseases.
“Compared to previous 4,000 cases per day, Covid cases are now averaging to 1,600 maximum, as per the data of the Department of Health,” Lopez said.
“It is because of the effective implementation of the minimum health protocols, adhered to by most Filipinos. What is alarming is the rise
of diseases linked to malnutrition and hunger, and stunted growth affecting children’s intelligence, as 1.6 Filipinos are still jobless,” he added.
He disclosed that Metro Manila at present has a 23.3 percent hunger rate, compared to 14.9 percent pre-Covid status.
The unemployment rate for NCR is now at 12.4 percent compared to 7.7 percent for areas outside the main region.
“These statistics have a big impact on Metro Manila because this means that there are lots of families suffering from hunger and malnutrition. These are problems we see that have to be faced by Metro Mayors if they will not consider the reopening of different businesses and segments of the economy,” Lopez insisted.
Social and security issues, according to Lopez, are also affected due to joblessness, that’s why the economic team, specifically the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and with the National Economic and
Development Authority (NEDA), is trying to balance health and economy.
“So, by shifting to MGCQ (modified general community quarantine), there is a big chance that those 1.6 million jobless Filipinos will get back their jobs,” Lopez said. “But still, it will be affected by many factors such as the age restrictions and the present quarantine classification which is GCQ. So how can we provide jobs if we will not ease the restrictions?”
The Trade chief, meanwhile, thanked the Metro Manila Mayors for easing age restrictions to 15 from 17-years-old.
He, however, emphasized that the DTI and the NEDA will not stop proposing that 10 or even 5-year-old children and 70-year-old adults are allowed to go out.
“Again, it doesn’t mean that we will allow all citizens to go out. What we are encouraging really is more of family bonding, family bubble, going out together in malls to create traffic and revenues to those establishments. All differed proposals of the economic team will be re-proposed to the President and he will study those proposals,” Lopez explained.
On the reopening of theaters, he expressed that the finance team is still awaiting the decision of President Rodrigo Duterte.
“One thing for sure is that we the TWG will impose stricter guidelines on the reopening of cinemas, such as the additional ventilation, etc. We already have the draft of the implementing guidelines before we reach the deadline on 1 March,” the Trade chief explained.
He implied that the country is now in risk management state, not risk reduction since the curve of Covid cases are flattening as Filipinos strictly following minimal health protocols.
Lopez maintained that it’s about time to have the right balance in the economy and health, since 73 percent of Filipinos now are asking to spur a “New Normal”, based on the survey by NEDA.