Andronico Del Rosario
Filipinos criticizing the Duterte administration on social media and politicians giving their views on how the President handled the pandemic is nothing new anymore. However, when the World Bank speaks, the world leaders tend to shudder.
The most recent blow the Philippines has–is from the World Bank, which downgraded its economic projection for the country and also criticized its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
World Bank chief economist for East Asia and the Pacific Aaditya Mattoo described the Philippines as less successful in the region in transitioning away from shutdowns to a more efficient containment strategy.
Mattoo added that the country incurred economic distress without getting the containment benefit.
To date, the Philippines has the longest imposed quarantine for COVID-19, which now stands at one year and nine days as of writing.
The World Bank has downgraded its economic growth projection for the Philippines amid the country's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. pic.twitter.com/aMpuehUlg4
— GMA Integrated News (@gmanews) March 26, 2021
The projection on Philippine economy–will grow by 5.5% in 2021, a downgrade from its earlier 5.9%, and much lower than the numbers set by the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), which were between 6.5 and 7.5 percent this year–that is according to the Washington-based lender.
Another challenge presents to the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEIS), and its latest solution is the rise of COVID-19 positive cases. Cases have already reached an all-time high of 9,838.
Sadly, the Netizens may not hear or may not be privy to it.
GMA News journalist Atom Araullo harked back to Duterte’s description of his critics.
World Bank style bulok I guesshttps://t.co/njrzXKcR8g
— Atom Araullo (@atomaraullo) March 26, 2021
Another Netizen said a year has passed, yet it is only now that the country is finally using a single contact-tracing app.
https://twitter.com/marvsbarnardjr/status/1375371075693944832
Roque would earlier say the weakest part of the country’s pandemic response is its contact-tracing since not all regions use StaySafe.ph, an app developed specifically for the IATF’s contact tracing efforts.
He would, however, insist that the Philippine government is not reliant on severe lockdowns, saying the economy is very much open, save for a few industries.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque denied Friday that the Philippines only resorted to severe lockdowns amid the pandemic—a strategy that failed to contain the spread of COVID-19, according to the World Bank. https://t.co/MIs8vam6Gw
— GMA Integrated News (@gmanews) March 26, 2021
“Kaya hindi natin inimpose ang kahit anong MECQ or ECQ maski mataas ang mga kaso dahil importante po na manatiling bukas ang ekonomiya, na hindi naman po magutom ang ating mga kababayan,” Roque said in an interview with state-run PTV 4 earlier today.
This, however, does not give Netizens relief, as Moody’s Analytics said the Philippines “is in a worrisome state.”
Moody's Analytics: high food prices, sharp resurgence of COVID-19 infections, slow vaccine roll-out, a large output gap are all reasons for concern | via @MBChinoLeyco
— Manila Bulletin News (@manilabulletin) March 26, 2021
According to the economic research firm, “High food prices, a sharp resurgence of COVID-19 infections, a slow vaccine roll-out, and a large output gap are all reasons for concern.”
Moody’s pegged the country’s economic growth at 6.3 percent, still lower than the NEDA mark.
