By: Manila Bulletin
Alarmed at the Philippine record for being the weakest in economic growth and recovery in southeast Asia region, Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez yesterday emphasized that compliance to health protocols is key to economic recovery, saving jobs and ensuring security of the country.
Stressing that regardless of what quarantine classification is imposed, the trade chief stressed that “compliance is key.”
He pointed out that as the movement of markets/consumers remained restricted, the Philippine economy in terms of GDP slumped at the bottom in ASEAN from being the second fastest growing economy before the pandemic. He warned this has dire impact on poverty and hunger that will lead to malnutrition affecting kids’ education and their learning capacity/intelligence. “This will backfire to health situation in the future,” he stressed.
[READ: Recovery of the Philippine retail industry: Softening the blow]At the Malacanang briefing conducted by President Spokesperson Harry Roque, Lopez could not categorically say that he was proposing for the easing of quarantine classification for the National Capital Region and Calabarzon, which accounts for the bulk of the country’s economy, but stressed that this should be based on data.
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