Metro Manila to be under Alert Level 4 starting Sept. 16 — Año

Metro Manila will be placed under Alert Level 4 starting Sept. 16, which is the start of the pilot run of granular lockdowns, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said. Año said Metro Manila mayors have agreed to implement just one alert level as a whole to avoid traveling across cities and crowding on low alert level areas. He added that based on data analytics, at least five areas in Metro Manila can qualify for Alert Level 5, while two are considered Level 3. Most, however, qualify for Alert Level 4.

EXPLAINER: What you need to know about the COVID-19 alert level system in NCR

In a shift of pandemic response policy, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases approved the pilot of a COVID-19 alert level system in Metro Manila effective Sept. 16. Presidential and IATF spokesperson Harry Roque explained during a Palace briefing on Sept. 10 that under the new approach, there will only be two quarantine classifications that could be imposed: enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) and general community quarantine (GCQ). The Department of Health will announce the alert levels on a weekly basis under the pilot.

‘Vaccine bubbles’ unfair, costly – business groups

The private sector is split on “vaccine bubbles” as some business groups on Monday described as discriminatory the proposed measures to allow greater mobility for the vaccinated. In a statement, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) and the Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc. (Philexport) said the proposed measures would discriminate against those who cannot be vaccinated due to medical and “practical” reasons.  The business groups also expressed concerns about the costs of identifying vaccinated customers.

Food, energy prices seen pushing September inflation past 5 percent

The average pace of price increases in the Philippine economy will likely rise further this month due to stubbornly high prices of food products—aggravated by recent weather disturbances—and rising energy costs. This was the forecast made by ING Bank Manila senior economist Nicholas Mapa, who predicted that the inflation rate for September will breach 5 percent, after catching market watchers off guard with a 4.9-percent spike in August. He added that utility companies and retail fuel distributors have recently announced additional rounds of price increases, all adding to the supply side pressure.

Strong rebound in PH construction seen

The Philippine construction sector is likely to rebound strongly this year, driven by transport infrastructure, particularly rail and road development, think tank Fitch Solutions said. The local construction industry is seen to grow by 24.2 percent this 2021 and 16.1 percent in 2022, outpacing the growth of the overall economy. Downside risks remain, however, due to the resurgence of COVID-19 infections from the more contagious Delta variant and heightened containment measures, which may temper the sector’s recovery this second semester, Fitch Solutions said in a recent report.

Jolina leaves P633 million damage to agriculture

Data from the DA’s disaster risk reduction management operation center showed that as of noon yesterday, Jolina had displaced 36,983 farmers and fishermen, with total volume production losses of 26,749 metric tons. More than 17,680 hectares of farmlands in Bicol, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) and Central Luzon as well as in Eastern and Western Visayas were destroyed in the typhoon. Rice accounted for 48.31 percent of the damage with a total volume loss of P306 million.

Business leaders urge Congress to pass 3 key economic measures

Leaders from 43 business and professional organizations have pressed Congress to approve key economic reforms, especially amendments to the Public Services Act, to strengthen the Philippine economy, increase national competitiveness, generate employment, and support recovery from the ongoing pandemic. The groups stressed that all the three measures are far advanced in the 18th Congress and certified by President Rodrigo Duterte. They are a critical reform package – first advocated immediately after the May 2016 elections as part of the administration’s socio-economic agenda – and are prominent in the Philippine Development Plan of NEDA. Foreign investors and foreign governments have been following the progress of these reforms closely to determine whether the Philippine economy will be more open to investors or maintain its protectionist reputation. 

Galvez: LGUs, private sector to be allowed to directly purchase vaccines

Local government units and private companies will soon be allowed to purchase COVID-19 vaccines directly, the country's vaccine czar said Saturday, National Task Force Against COVID-19 Chief Implementer Carlito Galvez Jr. has announced. However, Galvez did not mention when such agreements could begin. LGUs have yet to comment on this development.

DTI says funds sufficient to assist half-million MSMEs in 2022

Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez said that his department’s budget for 2022 and leftover cash from the Bayanihan II economic stimulus package might be sufficient to provide loans and livelihood aid to 500,000 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).  Mr. Lopez said at a House budget hearing that the 2022 budget for MSME loans is P1.5 billion while P1 billion has allotted for livelihood kits. The department can also tap P2 to P3 billion in cash remaining from Bayanihan II intended for MSMEs. He said the funds are sufficient for assistance to the 500,000 MSMEs at an average of P10,000 each. 

NEDA sees electronics, manufacturing keeping economy afloat

The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said the electronics and manufacturing sectors are proving to be the main drivers of the economy during the pandemic. NEDA Undersecretary Rosemarie G. Edillon said that the NEDA sees the manufacturers, specifically those of health-related goods, as among the standouts in the economy  In a report to President Rodrigo R. Duterte Wednesday, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary and NEDA head Karl Kendrick T. Chua said growth in 2021 and 2022 “remains encouraging.”  According to Ms. Edillon, this is especially due to the quick response of the labor market to the lifting of lockdown measures.  

FDIs hit 5-month high in June, surge 40.7% in H1 2021

In a statement, the central bank reported $833 million in FDIs in June - a 60.4% increase. The highest since January, this figure brought total inflows during the first semester of the year to $4.3 billion. This represents a 40.7% growth from the $3.1 billion tallied from January to June 2020, the BSP said. For the first half of 2021, the BSP said most investments came from Singapore, Japan and the United States. These were primarily channeled into manufacturing, financial and insurance, and electricity, gas, steam, and air-conditioning industries.

Foreigners overstaying due to virus get reprieve

The Bureau of Immigration yesterday announced the temporary suspension of its “order to leave” to foreigners who have overstayed their temporary visitor’s visa amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said the suspension of the order was issued in consideration of the effects of the pandemic to domestic and international travel. He said the order reciprocates the leniency extended by other countries to Filipinos who may be experiencing the same situation abroad.

Debt payments up 37%

According to data posted on the BTr’s website, the amount settled in January to July amounted to P834.33 billion, up from the P608.26 billion paid out in the same period in 2020. Amortization jumped by 56.91 percent to P566.77 billion from the P361.2 billion paid out in the same period a year ago. Of the total principal payments made during the period, P405.23 billion was used to pay local lenders while P161.53 billion was spent to settle foreign obligations.

DTI chief endorses relaxing of protocols for fully vaxxed

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez has endorsed tweaking of community quarantine protocols by allowing more mobility for fully vaccinated individuals. The DTI chief said under the new protocol, fully vaccinated individuals could be allowed in restricted economic activities, such as dine-in services in restaurants and personal care services. The trade official said this could be pilot tested in Metro Manila, as the National Capital Region has more than 50 percent of its eligible population for Covid-19 vaccines already got their jabs.

COVID-19 vaccination until A5 already open in all LGUs

All local government units (LGUs) are already allowed to vaccinate priority sectors until the A5 group to cover indigents, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. has said. According to Galvez, the country is expected to receive over 61 million vaccine doses in September and October. He said that once these doses arrive, the government may already start vaccinating the general population by October.