Pluses of easing restrictions
WITH the advent of the “Christmas Season,” it’s certainly time to ventillate on the pluses and minuses of easing quarantine restrictions due to the coronavirus disease pandemic.
The nation’s businessmen, notably the small traders, cannot overemphasize the importance of opening up the economy as the second “ber” month of the year nears.
Various quarters acknowledge that the Yuletide Season can make or break a small business, with sales during the holidays making up 30 percent of a retailer’s annual revenue.
In the past, with no quarantine restrictions, like banning the elderly and minors from going out, businesses registered steady sales during the holiday shopping season.
Today, however, it’s totally different because the government, in its bid to prevent the further spread of the dreaded and deadly COVID-19, continues to enforce health and safety protocols.
In fact, President Rodrigo Duterte had to postpone the easing of the lockdown in the heavily-populated Metropolitan Manila (MM) area because of what he called as inadequate guidelines.
He noted that many are raring to go to work and conduct their business, but “we have to make sure that we cover any contingency so that we may reduce the risk of infections.”
In ordering the review of the inadequate guidelines, the tough-talking Chief Executive said he would not want to be remembered as one who caused the death of so many people.
We need money to enable the government to meet the needs of the people during the pandemic, but we have also to ensure the safety of the more than 110 million Filipinos.
Hindi ba, Health Secretary Francisco “Pingkoy” Duque III?
