Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 1) – The enhanced community quarantine happening across the country has forced economic activity to a halt, and this has had a chilling effect on growth prospects for 2020.
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Benjamin Diokno said there is reason to lift the ‘very strict’ enhanced community quarantine on April 15, to allow more economic activity while still limiting the movement of people.
“You go into a transition period where you may now allow more activity,” he said in an interview on CNN Philippines. “Agriculture can proceed, some light manufacturing. We can operate now maybe MRT, LRT, some buses; but still the malls will be closed.”
Diokno stressed the need to lessen the number of people on the street. He clarified that telecommuting or work-from-home arrangements must stay even after the enhanced community quarantine is lifted. Classes would likewise remain suspended.
“There could be partial openings starting April 15, maybe another month then we can go on normalization mode after that,” he added.
Meanwhile, Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion pushed for a shift to a barangay-based quarantine after the month-long lockdown, rather than a possible extension.
“The business sector has agreed – a Luzon lockdown would be better if more focused,” he said in an interview on CNN Philippines.
A barangay-based quarantine would also mean less checkpoints, which is currently hampering the movement of basic goods, Concepcion noted.
“I believe the number of victims is going higher because we are just testing now so we have a rise only because of testing,” Concepcion told CNN Philippines.
But San Miguel Corporation (SMC) President Ramon Ang said the enhanced community quarantine should only be lifted when it is confirmed that the country has flattened the curve.
“Otherwise, when we lift it too early, and then so many unknown cases come out, a lot of innocent people will die,” Ang told CNN Philippines.
Ang also clarified that social distancing must still be practiced even after the quarantine, as there is still no vaccine to fight COVID-19.
“For me, I would only lift this at least by the end of April or May 15,” he added.
“Wherever the infections are, you lock down the barangay. You might as well focus it to the barangay level because not all areas in the Philippines have the virus,” Concepcion added.
“But ultimately, this will taper off,” he added.
