NEDA recommends MGCQ for entire PH

The National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) recommended placing the entire Philippines under modified general community quarantine status to Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ) starting March 1.
In President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s weekly address, NEDA Acting Secretary Karl Chua pointed out the need for the immediate shift to MGCQ to “address hunger, sickness, hunger, poverty, job and income loss that are arising from non-COVID cases”.

He stated that part of the economy’s re-opening is continuously preserving the health of Filipinos.

“Iyong ating quarantine restriction na ginawa since March of 2020, ang naidulot po nito na total income loss na 1.04 trillion pesos in 2020. So on average po araw-araw, 2.8 billion pesos po ng mga sahod, ng mga kita ang nawawala (Our quarantine restriction since March of 2020 has caused a total income loss of ₱1.04 trillion in 2020. So on daily average, ₱2.8 billion worth of wages are lost),” Chua disclosed.

The NEDA Chief insisted that there should be a balance between the “opening of the economy and the control of the virus”. In a survey in November when the hunger rate increased, 73% of Filipinos stated the need for the said balance.

The NEDA also endorsed the increase in public transport capacity from 50% to 75% along with active transport via bike lanes, allow more provincial buses to operate, expand age groups allowed outside from 15-65 to 5-70 years old, and to resume the pilot-testing of face-to-face classes. Chua then assured that all the recommendations will be done with the “appropriate safeguards”. Report from Mela Lesmoras/PTV News Online

Popular

Taal Lake site assessment yields sack containing ‘bones’ — DOJ

By Brian Campued The Department of Justice (DOJ) confirmed that authorities retrieved a sack containing burned remains believed to be human bones during the initial...

LTO integrates online driver’s license renewal system in eGovPH app

By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has integrated the online driver’s license renewal in the eGovPH app, which ensures a fast and...

5 of 21 Filipinos in Houthi-hit ship in Red Sea rescued — DFA

By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora and Marita Moaje | Philippine News Agency Five of the 21 Filipino seafarers manning the cargo vessel Eternity C, which...

PBBM directs gov’t officials: Focus on work, avoid politicking

By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet At the Malacañang press briefing this Wednesday, July 9, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press officer Claire Castro reiterated...