Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles assured that government economic measures are in place following the decision of President Rodrigo Duterte not to shift to a nationwide modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) pending the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines.
“Nauunawaan niya na kailangan nating lalo pang buksan ang ekonomiya. Pero para sa kanya, step by step (He understands the need to further open the economy. However, he wants it done step by step),” Nograles explained.
Among the measures presented at the fifty-second cabinet meeting are the fast-tracking of programs such as the National Broadband Program, free Wi-Fi for all, National Government Data Center, and the creation of the National Employment Recovery Strategy (NERS) Task Force.
“To help move the NERS along, (an) NERS Task Force has been formed, co-chaired by the Department of Labor, the Department of Trade and Industry, and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority,” Nograles said.
Meanwhile, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) supports the decision of the chief executive and assured government cooperation “with various sectors to roll out the vaccine” to give way for further reopening of the economy.
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairperson Benhur Abalos also welcomed in a separate statement the decision of the president, and vowed they “would exert all efforts and rally behind him in combating this COVID-19 pandemic.”
Independent OCTA Research Group expressed favor on the ruling amid the reported recent increase in the number of COVID-19 cases.
“Nakinig po siya sa mga healthcare expert natin at mga scientists… Ang hope ng OCTA Research, makakuha na tayo ng mga vaccines at mai-roll out na, lalo sa mga healthcare workers (He listened to healthcare experts and scientists… OCTA Research is hoping for the acquisition of vaccines and their immediate rollout, especially to healthcare workers),” Prof. Ranjit Rye said.
President Duterte is set to meet core members of the IATF-EID on Wednesday to finalize the quarantine classifications for March. – Report from Mela Lesmoras
