President Duterte has approved the adoption of a 10-point policy agenda that would hasten the recovery of the economy following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
The President also directed all government agencies to ensure compliance to Executive Order (EO) 166, signed on March 21, aimed at fast tracking economic recovery and driving broad-based expansions across various productive sectors.
“There is an urgent need to adopt policies on economic recovery to sustain current economic gains, minimize the pandemic’s long-term adverse effects, and restore the country’s development trajectory,” said the EO, which was recommended by the Economic Development Cluster.
The 10-point policy agenda provides for the strengthening of the healthcare capacity; accelerating and expanding the vaccination program; accelerating and expanding the COVID -19 vaccination program; further reopening the economy and expanding public transport capacity; and resuming face-to-face learning.
The agenda also calls for the reduction of restrictions on domestic travel and standardizing local government unit requirements; relaxing of requirements for international travel; accelerating digital transformation through legislative measures.
It also includes providing for enhanced and flexible emergency measures through legislation such as setting up a standby fund for pandemics, granting authority to reallocate funds for pandemic response and lifting of ceiling quick reaction funds.
The EO calls for the shift of the focus of decision-making and government reporting to more useful and empowering metrics; and the formulation and development of a comprehensive pandemic response framework to ensure the country’s resilience in future pandemic.
EO 166 mandates the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases and the National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19 to ensure implementation of the 10-point policy agenda; and the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) to monitor the compliance of concerned agencies.
The Economic Development Cluster of the Cabinet which includes the NEDA, the Department of Finance, and the Department of Trade and Industry, shall be consulted prior to the implementation of all anti-coronavirus measures.
The NTF’s Working Group on Strategic Communications and the Presidential Communications Operations Office shall build public understanding of government initiatives towards adjusting to the new normal and engage the most affected sectors.
NEDA said around 10.1 percent of businesses temporarily closed and 0.4 percent permanently ceased operations at the height of the pandemic in 2020, while unemployment swelled to 8.7 million Filipinos and loss of household wages and income reached P1.04 trillion.
It added that the pandemic will have long-term adverse effects on consumption and investment, workers’ productivity, and the general wellness of Filipinos.
