Shift to Alert Level 1 in NCR Plus to Boost PH Economic Output

The National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) estimates that the country’s economic output could generate approximately ₱11 billion weekly as the National Capital Region (NCR) and nearby provinces — Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal — get ready to shift to Alert Level 1.

“If we continue to work together and see alert level one, hopefully by the next month, then we would have added ₱11.2 billion in gross value added per week in the NCR Plus area,” explained NEDA director-general Karl Kendrick Chua on Thursday. Currently, NCR Plus is still under Alert Level 2, excluding Laguna which remains at Alert Level 3.

National unemployment also rose to 3.27 million at the end of December, which Chua believes could significantly drop by 191,000 should NCR Plus enter the lowest Alert Level. The Economic Development Cluster (EDC) hopes to continue this projected growth through the implementation of a 10-point policy agenda that includes plans of boosting the COVID-19 vaccination efforts and even the resumption of face-to-face classes.

In line with Metro Manila’s drop to the lowest Alert Level, various malls have also considered ramping up health protocols as they expect a surge in customers. Robinsons Malls have noted that they will be putting extra health marshals to maintain the health of safety of shoppers. Ayala Malls Group, on the other hand, is preparing to comply with the rules of that Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) as well as local governments.

“We assure everyone that we have made the necessary preparations now level 2 we have augmented the headcount of our sanitation team. Sa (At) level 1 we will do the same, we will add more health and safety marshals to clean our high-touch areas and remind our shoppers of the standard health and safety protocols,” explained Mina Domingo, operations director of Robinsons Mall.

“All of us Ayala Malls are preparing to lift the restrictions. It’s actually a welcome development for us as it will allow malls to welcome shoppers from various age groups,” said cluster head of operations at Ayala Malls Group central team Pivi Diaz.

Sources: CNN PH, ABS CBN