By IRMA ISIP and ANGELA CELIS
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) expressed confidence the number of closed establishments could further go down from 10 percent as of June as long as the general community quarantine (GCQ) status in most areas is maintained.
Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez hopes the number of establishments closed in Metro Manila would revert to the February level of four percent or even to near normal when more businesses are up and running.
The DTI chief said the 10-percent rate of closure in June was an improvement from 38 percent last year, when stricter lockdowns were in place, and from 16 percent in March and April, when the National Capital Region Plus was placed under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) and modified ECQ.
“If we can sustain the containment of cases and no surge(in new coronavirus disease 2019) happens, and if we remain careful in following health protocols and more Filipinos get vaccinated, we should see more establishments reopening,” he said.
But Karl Kendrick Chua, National Economic and Development Authority chief, said the threat of the Delta variant can be properly managed without the need to place the country under GCQ or higher levels of lockdown.
Chua said in a Viber group message to reporters yesterday the government acknowledges the Delta variant’s threat to the Philippines, and that it can be addressed through border controls and enforcement of health standards.
Last July 5, the Department of Health (DOH) said two new Delta variant cases were recorded in returning overseas Filipinos with travel history from Saudi Arabia.
Both arrived in the Philippines last May 29 and have completed the requisite 10-day isolation period. They have been discharged from the quarantine facility after being tagged as recovered, the DOH said.
“We recognize the higher risk brought about by the Delta variant. This can be better managed by guarding our borders and enforcing the health standards, as well as imposing localized lockdowns in areas of transmission, rather than placing the entire country or large areas in GCQ or higher level of quarantine,” Chua said.
“Data shows that the far majority of people comply with health standards and need to work to address their hunger and other non-COVID-19 health concerns,” he added.
He also said efforts should be placed on accelerating the deployment of the COVID-19 vaccines.
“As supply resumes next week, we will exert effort to increase vaccination centers, including in malls and work places, and prioritizing areas of highest risk of infection,” Chua said.
Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez, meanwhile, was asked to comment on the possible economic impact of allowing children more than five years of age who are in GCQ and modified GCQ areas to go outdoors.
“I don’t know the answer to that but it will certainly improve the physical and psychological health of the kids and their parents,” Dominguez said.
