The government is now working overtime to safely reopen the economy in order for the country’s citizens to return to work and to prop up consumer confidence to boost economic activity.
This according to Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, who in an interview stressed that the government would exert all efforts to ensure that (coronavirus disease) COVID-19 containment protocols are strictly enforced as it balances the need for the populace to resume their livelihoods while protecting their health.
“What the government has to do is to ensure the safety of our kababayan when they go out to either work or to purchase goods and services.”
Speaking in Filipino, Nograles said that “we have to find a way to get our countrymen back to work so they can feed and provide for their families and loved ones.”
“What is essential is that we take steps to ensure that they can go back to work safely. That is why in Phase 3 of the National Action Plan we want to strike a proper balance between the health and livelihood concerns of our people.”
Nograles, Co-Chairperson of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) also said that it was vital to improve consumer confidence to spur economic activity in the country.
“It is important to bring back consumer confidence in order to bring back economic activity in the country, because our countrymen will be able to help reinvigorate the economy,” said the Palace official.
“What the government has to do is to ensure the safety of our kababayan when they go out to either work or to purchase goods and services; this is why we continue to reiterate the need to enforce and to follow safety protocols.”
“We have to find a way to get our countrymen back to work so they can feed and provide for their families and loved ones.”
The former legislator reiterated the need to follow government guidelines regarding the use of face masks and face shields, as well as to utilize the StaySafePH contact tracing system, as these are all layers of protection intended to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
“Since we are slowly opening our economy and our kababayan are starting to go back to work and find livelihood, we have to make sure that they are all safe. Parallel to that, we also have to promote digital technology like e-commerce, online transactions, and cashless transactions to help stimulate economic activity.”