The Philippine economy will face a loss of at least Php105 billion every week as the country imposes stricter lockdown measures to fight the threat of COVID-19 Delta variant, said Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Chua.
From August 6 to 20, Metro Manila is set to be placed under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ). Under the ECQ restrictions, essential establishments and industries will be allowed to operate and the hospitals, groceries, courier, and delivery services will remain fully operational.
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Banks, veterinarian clinics, telecommunications, power and energy, internet services, water and sanitation services, business process outsourcing, manufacturing companies, and suppliers for construction works can operate with a reduced workforce.
The ECQ imposed in Metro Manila and other high-risk areas will increase poor people by 177,000 and 444,000 and make more persons jobless, said Chua.
He said that the effect could be partly reversed “if we use the three weeks to accelerate vaccination of everyone in the high-risk areas.”
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The cash aid will also mitigate the impact of the lockdown, Chua added.
No details have been disclosed by the Department of Finance and Department of Budget and Management that whether there will be cash aid during the ECQ period.
On Thursday 97 more cases of the Delta variant were reported bringing the total to 216 as the government decided to impose the ECQ restrictions in the capital region. (AW)
