DOF recruiting more individuals to assist in crafting economic bounce-back plan post-COVID

The Department of Finance (DOF) is now looking to recruit more individuals to assist in the crafting of a bounce-back plan for the domestic economy once the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis is resolved.

In a statement on Tuesday, the DOF said its Strategy, Economics, and Results Group (SERG) is now beefing up its team to support state economic managers in coming up with a recovery and stimulus plan.

"There is so much we all need to do to help each other get back on our feet. A crucial part of our national recovery effort is crafting and implementing a bounce-back plan for our economy," said Finance Assistant Secretary Antonio "Tony" Lambino II.

"SERG is building up its team that will support our economic managers in making this happen," he added, noting that interested individuals could see application details on official pages of the department.

According to Lambino, the work of the prospective recruits would include providing relief to poor and low-income families; and planning for inclusive growth, job creation, and poverty reduction.

"To achieve these objectives, we need a combination of technical specialists and effective communicators: people who listen well and engage effectively with all kinds of stakeholders; build coalitions for change; recast complex jargon into popular language; while also bringing ideas of stakeholders to the attention of policymakers," said Lambino.

"The government needs highly competent, compassionate, and committed individuals who are strategic thinkers, who can communicate well, and work with teams to help our country rise above this present crisis," he added.

The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) last week said the government is ready to ensure that the economy would bounce back once the COVID-19 issues are resolved.

NEDA has since proposed a three-phase approach to mitigate the social and economic impact of COVID-19.

Phase 1A will involve clinical and medical response, the early detection and diagnosis, effective quarantine systems, effective management and treatment protocol, and research and epidemiological studies.

Phase 1B is for public health responses such as travel ban, promotion of proper hygiene, ban on crowded gatherings, school closures, work suspension, flexible work arrangements, and work continuance in essential sectors.

Meanwhile, Phase 1C will be for the short-term augmentation of the Philippines' health systems capacity, such as establishing makeshift out-patient consultation facilities with specimen harvesting, and the increase of supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) and remote quarantine facilities (RQF).

This will be followed by Phase 2 which will rebuild consumer and business confidence.

Lastly, Phase 3 will involve the resumption of a "new normal" state of economic activity more prepare for another possible pandemic.

Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia -- who left his post as the chief of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) last week -- said he chose to quit given the differences among other members of the economic cluster.

Pernia, over the weekend, said he wanted to continue serving the government in the fight against COVID-19, but his proposal to open up more economic activity was a "dissonant" voice in the Cabinet.—AOL, GMA News