160K establishments at risk if ECQ is extended--Lopez
Around 160,000 business establishments will be as risk if and when the current enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Metro Manila gets extended beyond Aug. 20, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez said.
Similar to the projection made during the previous implementation of ECQ in the metropolis, 16 percent or 160,000 establishments in the region will be affected in the event of an extended lockdown, Lopez bared during a televised briefing Tuesday, Aug. 17.
"Of course marami na talagang naapektuhan. Naubos na yung kanilang mga puhunan, yung cash loan nila, working capital nila dahil nga nagsunod-sunod itong lockdown. Yung mga dating tauhan nila na napapasweldo nila kahit lockdown, maraming nagsasabi sakin na they have to let go muna yung kanilang mga empleyado na hindi na nila kayang swelduhan so kawawa talaga yung ating mga manggagawa (Of course, many establishments have been affected. They have run out of cash loan and working capital due to the series of lockdowns. Some of them told me they had to let go of some of their employees whom they can no longer compensate)," Lopez said.
This is why the secretary is hoping for the resumption of economic activities, especially when it comes to commercial establishments that follow minimum health protocols and are keeping safe, so to speak.
"At least they have a chance to earn. Workers must be given the chance to work if they are not covered with assistance drives," he added.
Metro Manila has been under ECQ since Aug. 6. The lockdown was imposed to control the spread of the more dangerous Delta variant of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
The DTI chief also said that they have already used up the P5 billion cash assistance fund intended for micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME).
However, they managed to replenish P2.4 billion of it, which will be used for another round of cash grants for MSMEs.
"As we speak right now, P5.2 billion has been provided to around 33,200 . This number continues to increase and we have P2.4 billion additional funds," Lopez said.
Of the amount, P1.5 billion came from the Department of Tourism's (DOT) allocation for MSMEs in the tourism sector. It will immediately be given back to the agency, the secretary added.