Philippines Eyes Further Reopening Despite Virus Spikes
Philippine Trade Chief Pushes for Looser Virus Curbs in Capital
(Bloomberg) -- The Philippines is looking to further reopen its economy even as coronavirus infections continue to rise, after a poll showed adult unemployment was at a record high last month.
The government wants to allow more economic activity and extend aid to small businesses after 27.3 million Filipinos in a Social Weather Stations survey in early July said they were jobless, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said.
“We are aware that Covid will be here for long, not just in the Philippines but around the world. We already know how to live with, in spite of and despite of Covid,” he said at a televised briefing Monday.
President Rodrigo Duterte will announce either an extension or easing of the restrictions before the tightened curbs implemented in metropolitan Manila and nearby provinces lapse on Tuesday, Roque said.
The trade department is also pushing for looser movement restrictions in the capital region to enable more people to go to work, Secretary Ramon Lopez said.
“Let those who want to work and healthy enough to work go to work,” he said in a virtual briefing with entrepreneurs on Monday. “That’s also what President Duterte wants.”
The Philippines has the worst coronavirus outbreak in Southeast Asia, with more than 161,000 cases as of Sunday. While this will be considered in deciding on the lockdown, the government will also look at the capacity of hospitals to handle patients, which is “not at the danger level,” Roque said.
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