Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Sunday, Oct. 3 urged the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) to consider easing quarantine restrictions to pave way for the resumption of many business operations as more working parents can now return to work.

Following the government decision to pilot run limited face-to-face classes in schools in low-risk areas or municipalities that have zero COVID-19 cases, Gatchalian said more parents can now return to businesses or workplaces so they can earn something for their families and the economy can return to normal.

“Many parents were forced to stay at home because they lost their jobs while some chose to stay home so they can guide their children’s distance learning,” Gatchalian said.

“As more schools reopen, the parents can now return to work and will reopen our economy as we expect more sectors like transportation, education and businesses, including those in the service sector, to reopen,” the senator pointed out.

Gatchalian, vice chair of the Senate Economic Affairs, said a study by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) took note that the economic cost in terms of foregone wages of parents who need to stop working to care for their children would amount to P225-billion, covering 11 percent of the affected workforce during the school year (SY) 2020-2021.

A study by the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) also show that the long-run total cost of COVID-19 and quarantines on the present and the future generations is estimated at P41.4-trillion.

“Parents are also employees. Experience has shown that most working parents are unable to work as they need to stay home with their quarantined children, especially with granular lockdowns being enforced in Metro Manila,” the senator said.

He also said working parents will hopefully be more productive to focus on work with the reopening of classes.

Likewise, the lawmaker urged the government to accelerate the vaccination of informal sector workers and self-employed individuals to allow them to return to work or seek employment opportunities.

He said data from the National COVID-19 Vaccination Dashboard showed that as of September 24, 2021 a total of 2,718,947 indigent population or those under the A5 category for inoculation have received the first dose while those who have already been given their second dose and single dose vaccines only stood at 1,770,301.

He also noted that a total of 8,895,442 front liners in the essential sectors or those under the A4 category have so far received their first dose while 5,307,222 already have their second jab and single dose vaccines.

Those in the A4 priority group are private sector workers and government employees who need to be physically present in their workplace, as well those so-called informal sector workers and self-employed individuals who work outside their homes and those working in private households.