Duterte adopts econ cluster’s ten-point policy agenda for pandemic recovery
By Pilar Manuel, CNN Philippines
Published Mar 23, 2022 11:45:38 AM
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 23) — President Rodrigo Duterte has adopted the Economic Development Cluster’s (EDC) policy agenda aiming to speed up and sustain the country’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“There is an urgent need to adopt policies on economic recovery to sustain current economic gains, minimize the pandemic’s long-term adverse effects, and restore the country’s development trajectory,” read Duterte’s Executive Order 166.
The order was signed on March 21 and was released to the public on Wednesday.
The EDC’s ten-point policy agenda includes strengthening the country’s healthcare capacity, accelerating and expanding the national vaccination drive, and reopening the economy further while expanding public transport capacity.
The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) earlier said that placing the entire country under Alert Level 1 would add ₱16.5 billion to the economy per week.
The agenda also covers the resumption of face-to-face learning, which if done for all classes could prevent trillions of pesos in lost productivity, according to NEDA. The country lost around ₱22 trillion for the past two years without physical classes, the agency earlier explained.
The cluster likewise bats for fewer restrictions on domestic travel and the standardization of local governments’ requirements. It also wants requirements for international travel eased.
The EO adopts as well the prioritization of key legislations on digital transformation to improve the country’s connectivity.
It also seeks to formulate a bill allowing an efficient rollout of emergency programs during pandemic. The legislation could cover the establishment of a standby fund for pandemics and lifting of ceilings for Quick Response Funds.
EO 166 likewise adopted the “shift” on the focus of decision-making and state reporting to primarily take into consideration total severe or critical cases, case fatality ratio and total vaccinations to avoid “unnecessary changes in alert levels” and encourage Filipinos to get their shots.
The government must also come up with a Comprehensive Pandemic Response Framework beefing up the country’s resilience against future pandemics, stated the issuance.
The COVID-19 task force must ensure the agenda’s proper implementation and ensure all measures under the government’s pandemic response are aligned with them, added the EO.
NEDA, the Department of Finance, and the Department of Trade and Industry must be consulted before implementing such measures.
The order likewise authorizes NEDA to monitor the compliance of concerned agencies and to periodically report to the president through the Office of the Executive Secretary.
After plunging by a record 9.6% in 2020, the Philippine economy grew by 5.6% last year – slightly up the economic team’s adjusted 5-5.6% target band. Economic managers expect output to expand by 7-9% this year.
SOURCE: https://www.cnnphilippines.com/business/2022/3/23/Duterte-EO-166-EDC-ten-point-policy-agenda.html
