Palace: PH can’t afford to extend MECQ

Last updated on May 6th, 2021 at 07:19 am

METRO MANILA – Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said that the country can’t afford to extend the imposed restrictions anymore as the economy can no longer sustain the extended lockdown beyond August 18.

Roque claim that the next two weeks modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) will have a negative impact to the economy as 67% of our Gross Domestic Product comes from Metro Manila and Region IV-A where Laguna, Cavite and Rizal are also included.

The Palace is hoping that the two weeks recommendations of the frontliners as a brief timeout will be enough to allow the economy to recover.

President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday ordered the National Capital Region and nearby provinces under the stricted quarantine measures as a response to the plea from medical community to be given a timeout amid the surging Covid-19 cases.

The Philippine College of Physicians and Philippine Medical Association aired their frustrations and requests in behalf of doctors and health workers that was heard by Pres. Duterte.

The Presidential Spokesperson admitted that there is a setback as the country’s GDP growth is on a steady decline since the country was placed on lockdown last March 17.

The Philippine Statistics Authority announced that projected opportunities of ₱12 billion per day was lost during the lockdown and a further extension will pose serious concern to the country.

The 2020 contraction will be the first time the country experienced since 1998 Asian financial crisis. Mayors in the Metro Manila preferred localized hard lockdowns to minimize the impact of the pandemic to the economy.