Businessmen, groups support PH switching to MGCQ

Several groups, which include as members businessmen and economists, are backing a proposal to put the entire country under its most lenient quarantine next month despite serious warnings from experts.

In a joint statement, the signatories said the shift to a modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) should be done alongside opening the economy further. They said lawmakers should already pass laws amending the Public Service Act, the Retail Trade Liberalization Act and the Foreign Investment Act.

The signatories are the Foundation for Economic Freedom, Management Association of the Philippines, Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Subdivision and Housing Developers Association, and UP School of Economics Alumni Association.

The groups said it was important to balance public health with the impact of poverty and hunger, and to maximize opportunities in attracting foreign investments to create jobs and build the infrastructure for a strong digital economy.

“For these reasons, we support the call of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and our economic managers to shift the entire country to the less stringent [MGCQ], and to implement localized containment measures when needed,” they said.

“In this manner, we believe the delicate balance between poverty and health will be best served. Ideally, these health measures should be standardized across local government units to reduce uncertainty for all,” they added.

The proposal to put the entire country under MGCQ was first raised by NEDA Director-General Karl Chua before President Duterte earlier this week. Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez also supported the call.

The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases had also backed proposals to ease age restrictions and reopen leisure businesses like cinemas. Neither proposals were enforced, as they were met with opposition, specifically from mayors in Metro Manila.

A group of research experts who have been tracking the outbreak since last year, however, had warned of the repercussions.

“The proposal to shift the [National Capital Region] to [MGCQ] by March 2021 amidst the backdrop of a more contagious and lethal UK variant spreading in the regions is not just risky but also contrary to sensible epidemic management,” the OCTA Research Team had said.