MANILA -- The Philippine economy needs to "reopen with caution" to see how small businessmen and consumers adjust to the new normal as the world rides out the COVID-19 pandemic, an economic adviser to President Rodrigo Duterte said Wednesday.

Testing and isolation of suspect cases should continue as officials should be mindful that the virus stays unless a cure is found, said Presidential Adviser on Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion, whose Go Negosyo is helping local governments with mass testing.

"We have to open up," Concepcion told ANC's Market Edge.

"The GCQ has to happen to be able to see and feel how entrepreneurs will react... If the economy does not open, what's the use of a stimulus package? You have to reopen the economy with caution."

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The GCQ or general community quarantine has fewer restrictions compared to the enhanced community quarantine or ECQ which is in effect in Metro Manila and other urban centers until May 15.

By the time the ECQ ends on May 15, the lockdown would have lasted for 2 months. It was extended twice.

Continued testing would shift handling of the pandemic to a "protection curve" rather than watching a surge in confirmed cases, Concepcion said.

More local officials in Metro Manila are partnering with Go Negosyo on mass testing, he said. Some 1 million rapid test kits will arrive by May 15, he said.

"Testing is not just for this month. It's forever until we find a cure for the virus," he said.

"Let's plan that the virus will never disappear and create an environment where we can co-exist with the virus," he said.