'Take a bit of risk': Duterte adviser pushes for lockdown easing

ABS-CBN News

<div class='embed-wrap'><figure data-feedback='fb:likes,fb:comments'><img src='https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/business/05/11/20200509-culiat-fire-md-5.jpg' ><figcaption>Neighbors peek from their windows in Brgy. Culiat on May 9, 2020. <em>Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA - The COVID-19 lockdown in Metro Manila should be eased on May 16 as scheduled to restart the economy, an economic adviser to President Rodrigo Duterte said Monday, ahead of an expected statement from the chief executive.</p><p>The community quarantine should be downgraded to general from enhanced to allow businesses to test the new normal as the last 2 weeks have shown that the infection curve is flattening, said Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion.</p><p>The last day of the ECQ or enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila and other urban centers is set on May 15 after 2 extensions. It has been in place for nearly 2 months. Duterte is meeting officials on the lockdown later Monday after Metro Manila mayors sought a 15-day extension.</p><p>"It's how it should be done...You open the economy and locked down communities with infections...We have to take a bit of risk, we have been quite conservative," Concepcion told ANC.</p><p>"Let’s try something different. Lets try to move to GCQ by locking down barangay with high levels. Let’s try it for 2 weeks," he added.</p><figure class='op-interactive'><iframe height='315' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/RxVPwazgxvM?enablejsapi=1' width='560'></iframe></figure><div class='iwantbar'>Watch more in <a href='//www.iwantv.com.ph/'>iWantv</a> or <a href='//tfc.tv/'>TFC.tv</a></div><ul class='op-related-articles'>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/04/28/20/list-businesses-allowed-in-enhanced-general-quarantine-areas'>LIST: Businesses allowed in enhanced, general quarantine areas</a></li>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/04/28/20/list-services-activities-barred-in-enhanced-general-quarantine-areas'>LIST: Services, activities barred in enhanced, general quarantine areas</a></li></ul><p>Opening the economy while a vaccine is being developed and while the government is continuously working on ramping up its testing capability, will help preserve jobs and save small firms from bankruptcy, Concepcion said.</p><p>The lockdown, alongside the Taal Volcano eruption in January caused the economy to shrink by 0.2 percent in the first quarter, the first contraction since 1998.</p><ul class='op-related-articles'>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/05/11/20/philippines-covid-bangko-sentral-benjamin-diokno-supplementary-budget-new-economy'>Philippines needs fresh budget for jobs, 'new economy': Bangko Sentral</a></li>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/05/07/20/first-since-1998-philippines-gdp-shrinks-due-to-covid-19-pandemic'>First since 1998: Philippines GDP shrinks due to COVID-19 pandemic</a></li></ul>

<p>"It's how it should be done...You open the economy and locked down communities with infections...We have to take a bit of risk, we have been quite conservative," Concepcion told ANC.</p><p>"Let’s try something different. Lets try to move to GCQ by locking down barangay with high levels. Let’s try it for 2 weeks," he added.</p><figure class='op-interactive'><iframe height='315' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/RxVPwazgxvM?enablejsapi=1' width='560'></iframe></figure><div class='iwantbar'>Watch more in <a href='//www.iwantv.com.ph/'>iWantv</a> or <a href='//tfc.tv/'>TFC.tv</a></div><ul class='op-related-articles'>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/04/28/20/list-businesses-allowed-in-enhanced-general-quarantine-areas'>LIST: Businesses allowed in enhanced, general quarantine areas</a></li>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/04/28/20/list-services-activities-barred-in-enhanced-general-quarantine-areas'>LIST: Services, activities barred in enhanced, general quarantine areas</a></li></ul><p>Opening the economy while a vaccine is being developed and while the government is continuously working on ramping up its testing capability, will help preserve jobs and save small firms from bankruptcy, Concepcion said.</p><p>The lockdown, alongside the Taal Volcano eruption in January caused the economy to shrink by 0.2 percent in the first quarter, the first contraction since 1998.</p><ul class='op-related-articles'>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/05/11/20/philippines-covid-bangko-sentral-benjamin-diokno-supplementary-budget-new-economy'>Philippines needs fresh budget for jobs, 'new economy': Bangko Sentral</a></li>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/05/07/20/first-since-1998-philippines-gdp-shrinks-due-to-covid-19-pandemic'>First since 1998: Philippines GDP shrinks due to COVID-19 pandemic</a></li></ul>

<p>The community quarantine should be downgraded to general from enhanced to allow businesses to test the new normal as the last 2 weeks have shown that the infection curve is flattening, said Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion.</p><p>The last day of the ECQ or enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila and other urban centers is set on May 15 after 2 extensions. It has been in place for nearly 2 months. Duterte is meeting officials on the lockdown later Monday after Metro Manila mayors sought a 15-day extension.</p>

<div class='embed-wrap'><figure data-feedback='fb:likes,fb:comments'><img src='https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/business/05/11/20200509-culiat-fire-md-5.jpg' ><figcaption>Neighbors peek from their windows in Brgy. Culiat on May 9, 2020. <em>Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA - The COVID-19 lockdown in Metro Manila should be eased on May 16 as scheduled to restart the economy, an economic adviser to President Rodrigo Duterte said Monday, ahead of an expected statement from the chief executive.</p>

<p>The COVID-19 lockdown in Metro Manila should be eased on May 16 as scheduled to restart the economy, an economic adviser to President Rodrigo Duterte said Monday, ahead of an expected statement from the chief executive.</p>

The COVID-19 lockdown in Metro Manila should be eased on May 16 as scheduled to restart the economy, an economic adviser to President Rodrigo Duterte said Monday, ahead of an expected statement from the chief executive.

'Take a bit of risk': Duterte adviser pushes for lockdown easing | ABS-CBN News

Business

Business

'Take a bit of risk': Duterte adviser pushes for lockdown easing

'Take a bit of risk': Duterte adviser pushes for lockdown easing