Palace admits pandemic adversely affected Filipinos’ socioeconomic planning conditions

August 23, 2020

Malacañang on Saturday acknowledged that the coronavirus pandemic and the quarantine restrictions have adversely affected the socio-economic conditions of the people after 36 percent of Filipinos said they expect their quality of life to worsen in the next 12 months.

In a statement, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the result of the Social Weather Stations survey concerns the administration.

“The Palace acknowledges that the COVID-19 pandemic and the quarantine restrictions have adversely affected the socioeconomic conditions of our people for the respondents of the survey to have this opinion,” Roque said.

“It is for this reason government economists have prepared a whole-of-society program in our recovery plan called Recharge PH to mitigate its impact,” he added.

Roque said “Ingat buhay para sa hanapbuhay” is the current direction of the government with the gradual opening of industries, such as the resumption of our Build, Build, Build program, including the build up of the country’s health system capacity and preparing for new normal through digital transformation.

“We hope to revitalize the economy and stimulate growth for the betterment of the lives of our people,” he said.

According to SWS, the 36 percent pessimists in July 2020 is the second highest proportion in the 37-year series.

Pessimists peaked at 43 percent in May 2020, breaking the previous record 34 percent in March 2005. Ella Dionisio/DMS