Concepcion: Open up economy, we can't restrict mobility

Former presidential adviser for entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion on Wednesday said while there is still a need to remain cautious of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Philippines should open up its economy as much as possible.

Concepcion believed that the rise of infection in the country was not because of the optional use of face mask but due to individuals who refuse to take booster shots.

"We should still remain cautious of the pandemic. It's still there but nakikita natin tumataas ang infection natin dito sa bansa natin. Pero 'di dahil sa optional use of outdoor mask. Kasi madami dito sa Pilipinas pa rin ayaw kumuha ng booster," Concepcion, who is part of the Marcos administration's Private Sector Advisory Council, said in a public briefing.

(We can see that [COVID-19] infections are rising in the country not because of the optional use of outdoor mask. It's because a lot a lot of Filipinos still do not want to avail of booster shots.)

"We cannot restrict the mobility. Importante ang mobility para talagang umunlad ang economy natin. The lesser mobility we have, the lesser consumer spending you will have. We have to open up as much as possible, all sectors in tourism," he added.

Concepcion said the country has to continue to move forward and he also encouraged Filipinos to get booster shots to maintain the level of immunity.

"At this point in time, provided that your healthcare utilization rate is manageable and low, dapat tuloy-tuloy pa rin tayo (we should keep moving forward). We all know that COVID-19 is here, many people are getting infected, tumataas ang positivity natin but karamihan ng kaso, mild pa rin (positivity rate is increasing but most cases are still mild)," he said.

"But again to those who are at the highest risk, dapat gumamit sila ng mask at kung wala silang booster shot, pakikuha na ang booster shot kasi importante ito sa improving of level of immunity (they should use masks and if they don't have booster shots yet, they should avail this as this is important to maintain the level of immunity). And we have to maintain that level of immunity," he added.

Earlier, the Philippines recorded 17,891 new COVID-19 cases from September 19 to 25, 2022 — 22% higher than those logged from September 12 to 18.

The Philippines on Tuesday recorded 1,555 new COVID-19 cases, increasing the country’s total caseload to 3,941,656.

Department of Health (DOH) officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire has said the lifting of the mandatory use of face masks outdoors could be among the reasons for the recent increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in the country.

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. had signed an executive order allowing the optional use of face masks in open spaces and non-crowded outdoor areas with good ventilation. —KG, GMA News