By Pearl Gumapos
The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) on Saturday (March 5) said that the de-escalation of NCR and other areas in the country to Alert Level 1 will help cushion the possible effects of the Ukraine crisis.
“Malaking bagay iyong napunta sa Alert Level 1, especially ang NCR. Ang gusto naming mangyari is [ang] buong Pilipinas [ay] nasa Alert Level 1 kasi isa rin ito sa makakatulong para ma-cushion natin ang impact nitong Ukraine crisis,” NEDA Undersecretary Rosemarie Edillon said during the Laging Handa public briefing.
Meanwhile, Edillon also said that the government should first focus on growing the economy.
“Kailangan talaga magbukas ang ating ekonomiya para dumami iyong production at masolusyunan ang ating supply chain,” she said.
“Sa fiscal consolidation plan, ang pinaka numero uno na gawin natin is to grow the economy. Kung mas magiging malaki ang growth natin kaysa sa paglaki ng interest payments na kakailanganin, makaka-abante tayo.”
As for expenditure, Edillon said to focus on that which will improve the country’s productivity.
The agency is also monitoring the trends about the price of oil.
“Binabantayan namin ng mabuti ang kalakaran sa presyuhan ng langis. Of course, iyong nangyayari sa Ukraine at Russia, and then kung paano ang magiging epekto nito at ano ang puwedeng gawin ng pamahalaan para dito,” Edillon said. – bny
