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Ex-NEDA chief Pernia: 'Better coordination' needed between gov't, private sector

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ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/news/04/19/20170809-duterte-economic-officials-8-jc.jpg?ext=.jpg"/><figcaption>Former Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia is shown in this file photo. <em>ABS-CBN News</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA -- Former Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said Sunday there should be &quot;better coordination&quot; between the government and the private sector in the fight against COVID-19.</p><p>The pandemic, which forced a lockdown of half the Philippines&#x27; 100 million people since March 17, required a &quot;whole of society approach,&quot; said Pernia, who quit his post last Friday.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QPafKFkSlGo?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><p>Pernia told ANC the lockdown could be &quot;modified&quot; after its scheduled expiry on April 30. He said this should be accompanied by rapid and mass testing for the disease.</p><p>&quot;What would have been better, there would have been better coordination between what the government is doing on one end and what the private sector is doing,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;All these things can be coordinated, in terms of social amelioration. If there&#x27;s better coordination, the impact is much larger,&quot; he said.</p><p>Philanthropy has been &quot;rather impressive,&quot; Pernia said.</p><p>&quot;Bayanihan to Heal as One is supposed to be the whole of society, whole of country collaboration, cooperation, working together to heal as one,&quot; he said, adding, &quot;Before you heal as one, you have to act as one.&quot;</p><p>The Philippines biggest companies have pitched in to the COVID-19 relief, donating food and protective equipment and paying workers&#x27; salaries. Banks have also provided grace periods on loan payments and waived some fees and interest.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/04/17/20/philippines-economic-planning-chief-pernia-resigns-during-covid-19-lockdown">Philippines economic planning chief Pernia resigns during COVID-19 lockdown</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/04/18/20/pernia-resignation-palace-thanks-ex-neda-chief">Palace thanks Pernia for efforts as NEDA chief</a></li></ul><p>Pernia resigned after nearly 4 years on the job as the Philippine economy was facing a possible contraction due to lockdown that shut most businesses and required millions to stay at home.</p><p>He said the economy could contract by 1 percent in a &quot;worse&quot; scenario, post zero expansion, or grow by up to 2 percent.</p><p>Before he left his post, Pernia said the forward planning at NEDA was to &quot;rebuild or promote the confidence of consumers and the business sector in the economy.&quot;</p><p>&quot;The consumers or the public at large must have higher confidence in our health system,&quot; he said. &quot;Our health system capacity has been caught flatfooted by the COVID crisis.&quot;</p>

<p>Pernia resigned after nearly 4 years as socioeconomic planning secretary the job as the Philippine economy was facing a possible contraction due to lockdown that shut most businesses and required millions to stay at home.</p>

Pernia resigned after nearly 4 years as socioeconomic planning secretary the job as the Philippine economy was facing a possible contraction due to lockdown that shut most businesses and required millions to stay at home.