Chinoy businessmen back easing restrictions, welcome government loan initiative to meat traders

The Federation of Philippine Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FFCCCII) has expressed support for calls to “de-escalate” most areas of the country from general community quarantine to modified general community quarantine (MGCQ).

In particular, the group said it supports the proposal for easing restrictions pushed by the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the National Economic and Development Authority, saying the move would help quickly revive and decisively the Philippine economy, while respecting health protocols such as wearing face masks and social distancing to control the spread of Covid-19.

“We should ideally strike a balance between economic survival and public health guarantees. We support progressive initiatives and reforms to accelerate the economic recovery and sustainability of the Philippines, ”the group said.

All sectors should support reforms that promote our food security in the Philippines and cooperate to help ensure stable food prices as we begin to work on the Philippines’ economic recovery this year, ”said FFCCCII President Dr Henry Lim Bon Liong, in a press release.

Under section 5 of the General Guidelines for the Implementation of Community Quarantine issued by the Interagency Working Group for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, areas under MGCQ must adhere to minimum public health standards.

Outdoor activities such as sports and recreation are authorized under the MGCQ.

More importantly, it states that work in all public and private offices may be allowed to return to physical return to work at full capacity, with alternative working arrangements for those aged 60 and over, those with immunodeficiency, comorbidity or other health problems. risks and pregnant women.

Lim also praised the Agriculture Department’s plan led by Secretary William Dar to offer loans to market vendors and financial assistance to pig transporters severely affected by the two-month price cap on commodities. of pork and chicken in Metro Manila.

“We also welcome the government’s strategy to allocate aid worth 27 billion pesos to commercial pig farmers to help them repopulate in their area. The temporary pork supply deficit is not just here in the Philippines, it has been a regional challenge since 2018, so government reforms to boost pork production are very positive steps, ”Lim said.

Lim said he expects economic growth of 7.5% this year due to improving domestic and global conditions. Some of these positive factors include the arrival of various pandemic vaccines, the gradual reopening of the Philippine economy while maintaining health guarantees, the country’s excellent macroeconomic and fiscal fundamentals, the end of Trump’s chaotic trade war between the world’s two largest economies, the United States and China. with President Joe Biden’s recent Chinese New Year phone call to President Xi.

“We support government policies and reforms to increase the production of our pigs, chickens and other feeds, with a view to continued supply and price stability, such as financial and technical assistance to producers and farmers, modernization of rural infrastructure. as part of the ‘Build, Build, Build’ program. Kudos to DA, Secretary William Dar and our Filipino farmers, because despite the global crisis and economic downturn last year in 2020, Philippine agriculture has consistently recorded positive growth last year and will continue to experience good growth. year in 2021. One of the reasons for this success is the Secretary Dar ‘Program Plant, Plant, Plant’ to promote food self-sufficiency. Congratulations also for the fruitful cooperation of SL AgriTech, Go Negosyo led by Secretary Joey Concepcion and Deputy Secretary DA Dar for the launch last year of the Masagana 300 project to encourage and honor the Filipino rice farmers who achieve a harvest of 300 cavans per hectare using modern hybrid rice technology, “he said.