Re-closing industries will put more pressure to gov’t to give cash aid — DTI chief

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez on Tuesday said re-closing the economy will put more pressure on the government to give cash aid to sectors who will be displaced once again if the country regresses to stricter quarantine measures.

“Mahirap na pong isipin na magsasara ulit ‘yung mga kumpanya dahil humahabol po tayo sa pag-increase ng economic activities dahil marami po ang nahirapan at mga nawalan ng trabaho, nawalan ng kita,” Lopez said during the Laging Handa public briefing.

“So lalo pong mabibigatan... ang pressure din po sa gobyerno na magbigay ng more social amelioration package pagka may isasara tayong mga industriya kaya po nililimitahan na lang po ito at ang intensyon po natin ay magbukas,” he said.

In the first quarter of 2020, the Philippine economy contracted 0.2% —the weakest pace in at least two decades, dragged by the the eruption of the Taal volcano in January, the decline in tourism and trade due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in February, and the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in March.

Unemployment rate also soared to a record-high of 17.7% or equivalent to 7.3 jobless Filipinos.

“Ngayon po we also realize na ‘yung virus hindi madaling mawala. We just have to learn to manage it, live with, and control it so we can reopen the economy and maintain safety ng ating mga kababayan,” Lopez said.

“Siguradhing maingat at ginagawa ang mga health protocols,” he said.

National Economic and Development Authority Acting Secretary Karl Chua earlier said that government’s move to ramp up its COVID-19 testing capacity is seen to ensure that the country will not return to strictest lockdown measure or enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).  — RSJ, GMA News