2-week lockdown means ₱30-B wages lost, 1.8-M jobless – DTI

A two-week hard lockdown could mean wage losses of ₱30 billion and closure of 18 percent of establishments, affecting 1.8 million workers in the National Capital Region (NCR) and neighboring provinces, according to Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon M. Lopez.

Lopez explained these potential economic repercussions as President Duterte adopted the IATF recommendation to maintain the general community quarantine status with heightened restrictions, rejecting the advice of Presidential Adviser on Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion and business leaders to reimpose a strict 2-week lockdown to avert further Delta variant transmission in the country.

According to Lopez, those same percentage of closure and jobs displacement happened when the NCR Plus was placed again on ECQ status in March this year from the GCQ status.

“The economy cannot bear another massive lockdown, unless the situation really calls for it. We lose ₱30 billion in wages for two week lockdown. Loss of jobs will worsen hunger situation. More micro small and medium enterprises will close down,” he said.

Lopez explained that the decision to keep the GCQ status with heightened restriction was reached following consultations with officials and reliable health experts and advisers.

“Lopez further said that COVID cases are still within manageable levels,” he pointed out. While the Delta variant has been detected, he said, it has been contained and closely watched.

The approach though is to take a more holistic assessment with intensified vaccination rollout, plus strict public health standards implementation.

He, however, said that a granular lockdown may be imposed on areas where are there are surges in cases.

These measures, he said, will keep the economy going and save jobs and livelihood.

“What is key is we allow the economy to reopen in a safe and very calibrated way, but we make more restrictions on non essential activities, mass gatherings, and definitely no super spreader activities.” he said.