The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) is encouraging consumers and the working population to respond to a new survey on confidence in the safe and gradual opening of the economy.

In a statement, Acting Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick T. Chua said the key to a real economic recovery is managing risks, and not to avoid them.

Chua explained that all economic indicators have revealed that with the safe opening of the economy, incomes and jobs come back, while with more restrictions, the reverse happens.

“With significant progress in the health system against COVID-19, the focus now should be on striking a better balance to also care for those who are jobless, lost their income, are hungry, depressed, and those who are at risk of dying from non-COVID diseases,” Chua said.

"As we move towards 2021, NEDA remains guided by our principle of placing the Filipino people at the center of our plans or as our maxim says: ‘sentro ang tao sa ating plano’,” he added.

In this regard, NEDA is conducting its second Consumer and Employee Survey to determine the general confidence of the people in opening up the economy. This latest initiative is a follow-through of the previous surveys earlier this year.

“We enjoin everyone to participate. The results will be useful in helping the government plan a calibrated opening of the economy in 2021,” Chua said.

The survey, which will run until December 31, 2020, is available in English and Filipino and includes questions on consumer perception, employment and livelihood, education, transportation, and other socioeconomic indicators.

The survey usually takes between 10 to 15 minutes to accomplish. The Consumer and Employee Survey can be accessed through this link.

The NEDA Chief also emphasized that everyone’s cooperation is needed in adhering to health measures, especially this Christmas season, so that the gains everyone painstakingly worked for this year will not be reversed.

“The challenges are immense, but we are determined to end this pandemic fatigue and to build back a better future our people and our children deserve,” Chua said.

“We look with optimism to the future as we do our work so that, together, we can reach our Ambisyon Natin 2040 vision of a matatag, maginhawa, at panatag na buhay para sa lahat,” he added.