MANILA, Philippines — The country’s largest business organization is against an extension of the lockdown imposed in Metro Manila to address rising COVID-19 cases, saying this would erase the country’s economic gains.
Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) acting president Edgardo Lacson yesterday said the lockdown is not the only action that may be taken to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
“COVID-19 pandemic is a pharmaceutical problem, while lockdown is a militaristic solution. Our economy is disfigured after many protracted lockdowns, yet the spread of COVID continues,” he said.
“Mere mention of lockdown stokes greater fear than the infection from COVID-19. Another five-week lockdown could be the proverbial last straw on the camel’s back. It will wipe out the temporary economic gains we earned in between lockdowns and could stop the momentum of business from moving forward,” he added.
PCCI’s statement comes as Health Undersecretary Rosario Vergeire recently presented projections on COVID-19 cases in Metro Manila based on different scenarios, which include a five-week lockdown.
Metro Manila is under the strictest quarantine classification, or enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), from Aug. 6 to 20, due to the threat of the Delta variant.
Lacson said the five-week lockdown is an overreaction and the more prudent response is to ramp up the rollout of vaccines, along with continued compliance with health protocols to stop the spread of the virus.
PCCI honorary chair and treasurer Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr., in an interview with “The Chiefs” over Cignal TV’s One News on Thursday night, said the business group wants an end to lockdowns given their impact on the economy.
“We don’t want to see any lockdown anymore,” he said.
According to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), the imposition of ECQ in Metro Manila and other areas would mean at least P150 billion worth of losses per week.
Earlier, the Department of Trade and Industry said a two-week lockdown would translate to P30 billion worth of wage losses and affect 1.8 million workers.
While the government is providing cash aid for those affected by the lockdown, Ortiz-Luis said what is being given is not enough.
He said the PCCI has recommended adding hospital rooms, as well as suspending the Data Privacy Act by announcing the names of those positive for COVID-19 to contain the virus.
In monitoring COVID-19 cases, he said the group would also want the number of severe cases to be tracked.
He said the business sector, for its part, would continue to strictly follow health protocols.
He also said the PCCI backs the position of the Department of Labor and Employment against the no vaccination, no work policy since the country does not have enough vaccines available for everyone at the moment.
The Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines (FINEX) said in a statement yesterday that it is hopeful the number of new COVID-19 cases would decline to avoid an extended lockdown.
“The NEDA estimate of P300-billion loss for the two weeks of hard lockdown is a significant amount for our economy. An extended lockdown will aggravate the undue hardship and suffering of our people who have yet to recover from the ill effects of the pandemic,” FINEX president Francisco Ed Lim said.
“We reiterate our call for more and speedier vaccination and the strengthening of our health care system to minimize damage to our economy,” he added.
Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, in a Viber message to reporters, yesterday said the government is aware of the scenarios presented by the Department of Health and these do not necessarily mean the lockdown would be extended.
“There are balanced parameters being considered. And economic and security angles are also always considered together with health statistics,” he said.
Should the number of COVID-19 cases improve by next week, he said “we should go MECQ (modified ECQ) and granular lockdown.”