Duterte May Gradually Restart Philippine Economy After Lockdown
“It will be soon. While others are still on lockdown, we might open partially,” Duterte said in a televised address.
(Bloomberg) --
President Rodrigo Duterte may gradually reopen the Philippine economy after a lockdown on key economic centers ends in mid-May, his spokesman said.
The lockdown imposed in Metro Manila and central and southern Luzon provinces since mid-March will be relaxed eventually, “but not anytime before May 15,” Harry Roque said.
Duterte on Monday night said the lockdown will only be modified as totally lifting it may cause more infections. The government plans to allow construction and other sectors to gradually restart, making sure that social distancing remains including in the capital’s congested railways.
Governments across the world are studying ways to restart economies while minimizing the risk of virus infections in the population. New Zealand on Tuesday emerged from almost five weeks of strict nationwide lockdown, allowing factories, construction sites and takeaway food outlets to reopen though business must meet tough criteria to operate.
In the Philippines, non-leisure shops and clothing stores in malls can open once restrictions are eased, Roque said at a televised briefing Tuesday. Manufacturing of alcoholic drinks, tobacco, electronics and cement will also be allowed, as well as real estate and insurance activities.
Gambling, sports, mass entertainment activities and political gatherings will still be banned, he said.
The Philippine economy may shrink 0.2% this year before bouncing back to a 7.7% growth in 2021, central bank Governor Benjamin Diokno said over the weekend.
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