Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion has stated that the economy of the Philippines will have a hard time recovering if the enhanced community quarantine is to be extended again.
Concepcion hopes that ECQ areas will turn into general community quarantine by May 15.
Based on their recent data, around 1 million rapid test kits have been bought by more than 100 companies that are part of Project ARK. 800, 000 of the test kits will be allotted to their employees while 200,000 are expected to be donated to Local Government Units (LGUs).
The City of Manila has initially coordinated with the private sector for the testing. The batch 2 testing has already started in Tondo.
Project ARK plans to test every district of Manila. Manila Mayor Isko Moreno has stated that the city plays a vital role in stopping the spread of the virus since the ports are located in the city.
Manila is now preparing public schools in each community as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) facilities in anticipation of a possible second wave of positive cases.
Meanwhile, the private sector is coordinating with Quezon City, Pasig, Makati, Antipolo, and Batangas for the testing. – Report from Naomi Tiburcio
