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COMMERCE Secretary Ramón M. López said Wednesday that he anticipates that the government will relax quarantine restrictions in Metro Manila in January to allow various sectors, mainly entertainment, to resume operations.
In a text message to reporters, López confirmed that he tested positive for Covid-19 as assessed by his swab taken Sunday. He said he was exposed to a carrier of the virus on Tuesday last week, but chose not to say what activity interacted with this person.
Additionally, Lopez said he is asymptomatic and isolated at the time of writing as he participated in a series of engagements Tuesday via video conference.
Among them was a press conference with Cabinet Secretary Karlo Alexei B. Nograles, where Lopez said he expects the quarantine level in Metro Manila to be relaxed by January. The government may lift quarantine restrictions in the nation’s capital if Covid-19 numbers in the region improve this Christmas season, the DTI chief said.
“With continued good numbers in Metro Manila, we expect that by January, we will likely be at MGCQ [modified general community quarantine]”Said López.
Metro Manila remains under general community quarantine (GCQ) until the end of the year as per President Duterte’s order. Although most commercial establishments are allowed to operate in GCQ areas, activities in the entertainment sector are still prohibited.
If Metro Manila becomes an MGCQ in January, it will celebrate the new year with its cinemas, theaters and open tourist venues with limited capacity.
Minors, older
Likewise, López said the government may need to study its policy that prohibits minors and older people from leaving their homes. He argued that this restriction should be reviewed for lifting in order to restore consumer confidence and increase demand for goods.
“Consumer confidence will create demand, demand will create production, production will create jobs,” explained the head of commerce.
The World Bank reported Tuesday that 3 million Filipinos could sink into poverty before the end of the year, as millions of family supporters were left without work due to the pandemic. The incidence of poverty is estimated to rise to 22.6 percent this year, from 20.5 percent last year, according to projections from the Washington-based lender.
According to the Labor Force Survey, the unemployment rate in October worsened to 8.7 percent, from 4.6 percent in the same month last year, which translates to at least 3.8 million Filipinos without a livelihood in a recession.
As much as the economy needs a boost, the government is hampered from reopening the economy to full capacity by threats of an increase in Covid-19 cases. The Philippines is approaching 450,000 cases and 9,000 deaths, and the government is only expected to vaccinate people around the first quarter of next year.
