NextGen Day

Despite the looming threat of the Omicron strain of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), Malacanang said on Tuesday that the Philippines will still be able to meet its aim of 4% to 5% economic growth by the end of 2021.

The government lowered its economic growth objective to 4% to 5% in August, down from 6% to 7% previously, to reflect harsher mobility restrictions announced to prevent the spread of the Delta form of Covid-19.

“Opo, nagsalita na rin ang NEDA (National Economic and Development Authority) at ang ating mga economic managers tungkol dyan,” she said. (Yes, the NEDA and our economic managers have issued a statement.) We are optimistic that we will meet our economic growth targets. During the Laging Handa public briefing, acting Presidential Spokesperson Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles declared, “We are optimistic of meeting our economic growth targets).”

According to Nograles, the government can still fulfil its economic growth target as long as Covid-19 instances and the positive rate continues to drop and a safe economic reopening is executed.

He reiterated his demand for people to get vaccinated against Covid-19, claiming that it is the only way to ensure that life returns to normal.

“Kailangan magpabakuna po tayo, panawagan natin sa lahat.” If ang lahat – ang negosyo, ang mga livelihoods, ang trabaho – is as maraming taong mabakunahan natin, then ang lahat – ang negosyo, ang mga livelihoods, ang trabaho – is as maraming taong mabakunahan natin. Ang ating ekonomiya ay magiging bukas, particularly pag nakikita natin na mais marami sa ating mga kababayan ay bakunado. (We are urging everyone to get vaccinated.) The more individuals who are vaccinated, the safer everyone is — businesses, livelihoods, and employment. “The economy will be more open,” Nograles added, “particularly if they see that more of our people are vaccinated).”

As Covid-19 instances diminish, immunizations improve, and the economy progressively reopens, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua voiced hope in meeting the country’s 4 percent to 5% growth goal.

The Duterte administration is carefully balancing the management of Covid-19 with the economy’s safe reopening.

Not quite ready yet

Meanwhile, Nograles backed the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) decision to keep Metro Manila and most of the country on Alert Level 2.

“Right now, we’re not ready to announce any Alert Level 1 in the NGayon,” he stated.

According to him, the IATF-EID is completing the parameters to possibly deescalate Metro Manila to the lowest Alert Level 1 by evaluating the average daily attack rate (ADAR) and health care utilization rate.

Local officials, on the other hand, must be prepared to announce granular or limited lockdowns if Covid-19 cases increase in a certain area, according to Nograles.

“Dapat nakahanda sila mag granular at localized lockdown kung kinakailangan ng mga LGUs (local government units), local chief executives lalo na mga mayors, mga governors.” (All LGUs, local chief executives, especially mayors and governors, should be prepared to implement granular and localized lockdowns if necessary, as part of the ating Four-Door policy.) Recall that it’s Door No. 4 in our Four-Door approach to keep the Omicron version and other potentially dangerous variants out of the country),” he said.

Border control, active surveillance, including test and trace, early isolation and treatment of all those who test positive, and the vaccination campaign are all covered under the Four-Door Policy.

The World Health Organization has designated the Omicron variant, which was first discovered in Botswana, Southern Africa, as a “variant of concern.”

The Philippines has not yet recorded a case of Covid-19’s Omicron form but has placed travel restrictions on at least 14 nations that are at high risk of infection.

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