MANILA, Philippines—The more stringent COVID-19 quarantine reimposed in Metro Manila and four neighboring provinces accounting for half of the economy cut short in April the manufacturing growth posted in the first quarter of 2021 which prompted the country’s chief economist on Monday (May 3) to urge gradual easing of restrictions to meet this year’s growth goal.
Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua told ABS-CBN News Channel that the National Capital Region (NCR) Plus needed to move out of the current modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) by the middle or end of this month so that gross domestic product (GDP) could grow by the targeted 6.5-7.5 percent in 2021….
Keep on reading: New COVID-19 lockdown squeezes juice out of manufacturing in April