NEDA’s Chua optimistic quarantine restrictions to be eased in March

Acting Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua is optimistic that quarantine restrictions due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) could be relaxed further after February should the public cooperate with minimum health standards.

At a virtual briefing with presidential spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. on Monday, Chua reiterated that the economy cannot take a reversal to stricter quarantine measures, and data shows that easing could come as early as March.

"We strongly believe with the data we're seeing and if everyone cooperates, I think we can further relax after this month," he said, with Metro Manila currently and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) placed under the general community quarantine

"I think after this month we should be in a better position to relax further. 'Yung talagang hindi puwede is mag-u-turn tayo, 'yung bumalik tayo sa ECQ (enhanced community quarantine) or MECQ (modified enhanced community quarantine) and most of the time people's behavior will determine that if they follow the health standards of maintaining a distance and wearing masks," added Chua.

Just last week, Chua said the Philippines can no longer afford any prolonged quarantines as families lost some P1.4 trillion or P2.8 billion daily in 2020 due to lockdown restrictions. This translates to an average annual income loss of P23,000 per worker, but this could be higher for workers in harder-hit sectors.

Moving forward, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said it will base its recommendations to the President on both economic and health data, given the more regular releases on figures on labor which will be on a monthly basis starting this year.

The Philippines on Sunday reported total confirmed cases at 525,618 as of January 31, 2021. This includes 487,551 recoveries and 10,749 deaths. — RSJ, GMA News