HERE IN the Philippines, some Metro Manila mayors have favored a cautious and gradual reopening of the economy. Mayors Imelda Aguilar of Las Piñas, Isko Moreno Domagoso of Manila, Joy Belmonte of Quezon City, Abby Binay of Makati, and Antolin Oreta III of Malabon preferred their cities to be placed under general community quarantine (GCQ) after May 15.
They stressed that Metro Manila should not be on a complete standstill, noting that “off-center” cities could and should play the role in jump-starting the economy. It is in the “off-center” cities where major critical enterprises and manufacturing facilities are operating, aside from providing access to major highways and provincial markets.
We must remember that about 70 percent of the gross domestic product comes from the National Capital Region, Calabarzon and Central Luzon. These “off-center” cities have successfully managed the spread of the pandemic.
Metro Manila mayors are aware that the feared second or third wave of virus infections can happen if strict health protocols like wearing of face masks and social distancing are not observed. But the national government precisely built more quarantine facilities and hospital beds in anticipation of a possible rise in COVID-19 cases and as more tests are conducted in the population. The construction of these facilities has allowed the government to buy time and prevented our hospitals and health-care facilities from being overwhelmed by a new spike in COVID-19 cases.
The Villar Group of Companies, which I head, completed the conversion of the Philippine International Convention Center Forum Halls into a temporary health facility to handle moderate cases of COVID-19. The Villar Group, along with the Department of Public Works and Highways and EEI Corp., completed the job three days ahead of schedule by working 24 hours a day.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), in all, completed seven “mega community quarantine” facilities for COVID-19 patients in partnership with private companies.
Public Works Secretary Mark Villar said these health facilities, also called “We Heal as One Centers,” can accommodate 1,976 people and have been accepting patients. They also house returning overseas Filipino workers who are undergoing a mandatory 14-day quarantine.
The patient care facilities are found at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila; PICC Forum in Pasay City; Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila; World Trade Center in Pasay City; Asean Convention Center, Clark, Pampanga; National Government Administrative Center, New Clark City, Capas, Tarlac; and Philippine Sports Complex (Ultra), Pasig City.
We can avoid the worst-case scenario if we gradually reopen the economy as some European and Asian nations are now doing.
The Development Budget Coordination Committee has become realistic of its prognosis on the economy after two months of lockdown. It now sees the GDP contracting by 2.0 to 3.4 percent in 2020.
“NEDA [National Economic and Development Authority] estimates suggest that the potential impact of the pandemic on the economy could reach P2 trillion or about 9.4 percent of GDP this year,” says the Cabinet interagency body.
We might as well move to reopen the economy before a greater damage is done from where it is hard to recover. We must generate jobs, and the Philippines just cannot afford a rising unemployment rate.
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This piece first came out in Business Mirror on May 19, 2020 under the column “The Entrepreneur.” For comments/feedback e-mail to: mbv.secretariat@gmail.com or visitwww.mannyvillar.com.ph./PN
