By NG Seruela
The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said the implementation of enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) and modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) greatly affects the marginalized and the working class.
In today’s (Sep. 10) Laging Handa public briefing, NEDA Undersecretary Rose Edillon said the country records gross domestic product (GDP) loss of ₱144 billion for every one week of ECQ, and ₱74 billion for MECQ.
“Mayroon na po kaming ginawang pag-aaral dito ‘no na kapag halimbawa iyong ECQ, let’s say kunwari kung sa NCR, kung halimbawa sa NCR Plus ang pinag-uusapan natin ‘no, ang bawat linggo po ng ECQ is mga ₱144 billion eh tapos ang MECQ is mga ₱74 billion po ang nawawala sa ating GDP. Pero ang mas malaki po dito iyong impact on poverty at saka iyong mga nawawalan ng trabaho,” she said.
Edillon added that an estimate of 310,000 individuals lose their jobs under MECQ, while 607,000 are displaced under ECQ. She said the agency pushes for a more “strategic mobility restrictions,” a reason for its support on the policy shift of quarantine classifications.
Meanwhile, the NEDA said it sees the electronic sector and manufacturing as “drivers going forward.” Edillon explained that the electronic sector has been “very resilient” during the pandemic.
“Isang nakikita rin namin na parang nagiging very resilient during this time ‘no iyong ating electronic sector. Naging malaki rin kasi ang demand talaga ng electronics, hindi lang dito sa atin kung hindi pati sa mga ibang bansa so nagiging mataas ang ating exports. So talagang kailangan din na ituloy-tuloy natin ito, so tingin namin magiging ano, patuloy pa itong magiging malakas ‘no.”
“And of course, in terms of the manufacturing, iyong mga nagma-manufacture ng mga health-related na goods, kahit iyong mga pampa-boost ng immune system, iyan magandang ano ito. Ito iyong mga nakikita namin na magiging drivers going forward,” she added.
Furthermore, the NEDA assured that they have plans for the country’s resiliency against the pandemic. Edillon said they have “taken notes” of the weaknesses of some parts of the country’s economic systems.
“So I think we’re really taking stock of everything. We have actually taken note of the weaknesses of several of our economic systems lalung-lalo na siyempre sa issue ng healthcare and nilalatag na rin naman natin ang mga kaukulang measures. Kaya nga ang Japan Credit Rating Agency [JCRA] actually ni-reaffirm niya iyong ating credit rating in a stable outlook kasi nakita niya na mayroon tayong plano for a more resilient recovery going forward.” -rir
