The country’s chief economist Sec. Karl Kendrick Chua says the country should focus on managing the risks of increasing COVID-19 cases with the help of localized lockdowns in order not to affect the livelihood of thousands of Filipinos.
“We need to continue managing risks as COVID cases rise. We do this by focusing on localized quarantines and addressing the sources of highest risk, so that the jobs/livelihood of the far majority will not be affected,” Sec. Chua told reporters in a Viber message.
After a year in quarantine, 3.2 million or 23% of NCR population are suffering from hunger with 506,000 jobless in NCR alone.
“The issue we face now is not economy vs health. It is the total health of the people, whether from COVID, non-COVID sickness, or hunger,” he adds.
Sec. Chua says the opening of the economy in October 12, 2020 did not cause increase in COVID-19 cases with the help of strict compliance in health protocols and the gradual and careful approach to economic reopening.
Despite this the secretary adds that the government should also look after the welfare of non-COVID patients who could not afford treatment.
“We also have much higher deaths due to non-COVID because many can’t afford treatment. High burden disease claims in PhilHealth is 75% down. We also have to look after their welfare.” – Naomi Tiburcio