Gov’t told to aid local economies amid outbreak
THE government should boost local economies to cushion the effects of a deadly coronavirus outbreak on industries, a Finance official said.
No one knows for sure which stage the world is now on as far as the virus is concerned, Finance Assistant Secretary Antonio Joselito G. Lambino II told a briefing in Davao City on Friday. “What we do know is that tourism and trade are already suffering.”
While the Finance department is taking stock of the health crisis, the government is also rolling out programs to boost domestic consumption and tourism, Mr. Lambino said.
The Tourism department is working with hotels, restaurants and airlines to lower air fares and boost local tourism, he said.
“Tourist hotspots where there were a lot of foreigners are feeling the pinch right now,” the official said.
He added that tourism would take a hit with the travel ban on China and South Korea.
Mr. Lambino said the government was keeping its 4% growth target for the farming industry as the Agriculture department boosts links between local producers and consumers.
The agency also has a long-term program for strengthening farmers’ entrepreneurship capacity, he said.
“The bottom line is we would like our farmers to be agripreneurs, not just producers of a crop,” he added.
John Carlo B. Tria, president of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce, said the business sector was encouraging consumers to buy local farm products, while pushing more value-added goods.
The chamber has asked the Trade department to help set up a Regional Inclusive Innovation Center that will focus on research for processing fruits into health and wellness products. — Maya M. Padillo
