Rappler
Arroyo: Pandemic response must now be ‘tipped towards economic concerns’
Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo urged the Duterte administration to tip the balance of its COVID-19 response towards economic concerns after implementing a prolonged lockdown.
She recalled that her government contained the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) crisis in 2003, suggesting a similar decisive approach for the current pandemic.
Arroyo cited that over 580,000 individuals have been tested for COVID-19 in the Philippines as of June 23, with a fatality ratio of less than 4%.
She also noted President Duterte's swift actions, such as an early ban on flights from China and the March lockdown, as indicators of his decisive leadership.
Arroyo suggested that if the economy suffers severe consequences, Duterte can implement necessary remedial measures, comparing the potential economic aftermath to the 2008 global recession but with broader causes.
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See how different news organizations are covering this story. Below are the original articles from various Philippine news sources that contributed to this summary.
The Philippine economy is projected to contract by 3.5 to 4 percent in 2020, marking the fastest decline in 35 years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Vice President Leni Robredo criticized the government's delayed and complacent COVID-19 response, stating the Philippines is playing catch-up due to early inaction.
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Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III proposed placing Metro Manila and Calabarzon under Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ) to boost public confidence and help the economy recover.
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