Face-to-face classes
Philippine Economy

What’s Next For PH?

Mar 1, 2021, 4:00 AM
James Veloso

James Veloso

Writer/Columnist

As the first batch of COVID-19 vaccines arrive in the Philippines, President Rodrigo Duterte is willing to “relax” quarantine rules in order to boost the national economy.

The long-awaited arrival of vaccines has finally come but will they really provide the much needed shot in the arm (pun intended) for the country’s ailing and pandemic-hit economy?

WILL the arrival of vaccines against COVID-19 finally mean a light at the end of the tunnel for Filipinos whose lives and livelihoods were affected by the global pandemic?

President Rodrigo Duterte certainly hopes so, as the first batch of Sinovac vaccines finally arrived in the Philippines last February 28.

‘Looser’ quarantine

Following the initial delivery of 600,000 doses of CoronaVac vaccines to the Philippines, President Duterte announced that he is considering easing quarantine in Metro Manila.

The gradual easing of health protocols may ensue once the country secures at least two million COVID-19 shots, he said.

"Magkaroon lang tayo ng stock ng two million [doses], bitawan ko na. I will open the economy. Talagang hirap tayo," the President declared.
"People have to eat, people have to work, people have to pay for their upkeep. And the only way to do it is to open the economy, and for businesses to regrow..”

Currently, Metro Manila and nine other locations in the Philippines are still under general community quarantine until March 31, while the rest of the country has been placed under a modified GCQ.

The President has earlier rejected calls by his economic managers to place the entire country under MGCQ until the COVID-19 vaccines arrived.

Still no ‘face-to-face’ classes?

However, Duterte thumbed down calls from several sectors to resume “face-to-face” classes in the country.

“Huwag muna ngayon. Not now. I cannot make that decision,” Duterte said, adding that face-to-face classes would “place the children in jeopardy” at this time.
“I am not ready to lose the lives of our young people,” he added.

Duterte previously said he would not allow in-person classes unless a vaccine against COVID-19 would be made available in the country.

Lawmakers had called for the resumption of face-to-face learning, or at least, holding a dry run, to ensure that the country’s education sector will be ready once schools reopen.

Aside from lawmakers, various groups have also called on government to safely reopen schools, citing challenges that teachers, students and parents have been facing with distance learning.

Trust the vaccines

Meanwhile, amid reports of continuing mistrust Filipinos have for vaccines especially Sinovac, Duterte urged Filipinos to “trust science” and have themselves inoculated.

"To my fellow Filipinos, please set your fears aside. These vaccines are backed by science and deliberated on by our experts. Filipino experts," the President said.
"I encourage you to get vaccinated at the soonest possible time, and be our partner in preventing the further spread of the disease," he added. (JV)

We take a stand
OpinYon News logo

Designed and developed by Simmer Studios.

© 2024 OpinYon News. All rights reserved.