The entire country should be placed under the most relaxed modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) starting March 1, 2021 to address the rise in hunger as well as stimulate economic growth, acting socioeconomic planning secretary Karl Kendrick Chua recommended to President Duterte Monday night.
Persons between five years old and 70 years old should also be gradually allowed to go out of their houses as part of further reopening of the economy, according Chua.
The proposed shift to MGCQ status and easing of stay-at-home rule were among the recommendations made by Chua to balance the economy and public health during a meeting with Duterte and other top government officials in Davao City Monday.
Chua has asked for the President's approval of such recommendations after citing rise in hunger incidence, as well as income loss reaching P1.04 trillion arising from the strict lockdown since March 2020.
"Given progress on the health side and no spike in COVID cases from the reopening of the economy last October and yearend holiday, our recommendation is number one, we further open the economy to MGCQ for the entire Philippines especially NCR (National Capital Region) starting March (1, 2021),” Chua said in his remarks aired on state television.
"The main reason is gusto natin na ma-mitigate o mabawasan ang (we want to mitigate, reduce) sickness, hunger, poverty and income loss that is arising from non-COVID cases," he said.
If needed, Chua said localized lockdown should instead be implemented to curb any transmission at the barangay or municipal level.
For the month of February, Metro Manila, epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak, has been under general community quarantine (GCQ) since August last year. Other areas under GCQ are Cordillera Administrative Region, Batangas, Tacloban City, Iligan City, Davao del Norte, Davao City, and Lanao del Sur. The rest of the country has stayed under the least restrictive MGCQ this month.
In the meeting with the President, Chua also recommended the further expansion of public transportation from 50 percent to 75 percent so more people can go to their workplace. He said proper health protocols must be observed to ensure safety of passengers.
To complement a more open public transport, Chua proposed the promotion of "active transport support" such as establishment of bike lanes. He noted many Filipinos have shifted to biking when they buy essential goods and go to work.
He said they also noticed the shortage of provincial bus operations, saying some workers who returned to their hometowns during the lockdown could not return to their workplaces.
Another recommendation of the NEDA chief was to further expand the age group allowed to go out with proper health safeguards. He said the government could gradually allow persons aged five to 70 years old to leave their homes subject to discussion with Metro Manila mayors.
At present, only persons between 15 and 65 years old are allowed to leave their houses during the community quarantine.
"'Yung safeguard naman 'yung puwedeng lumabas ang kabataan with their parents only or initially they can go out to more open areas. Hindi naman ibig sabihin na pupunta sila sa malls," he said.
The government pandemic task force, earlier, allowed children as young as 10 years old to go to malls and other public places with their parents in a bid to boost consumer spending and business activity. But President Duterte recalled the order amid the threat of the new and more infectious coronavirus variant.
Chua likewise backed the proposal to resume the pilot study on face-to-face classes in the low risk areas.
"We are proposing Mr. President na i-resume natin because nakita natin 'yung COVID cases at UK variant ay nako-control natin," he said.