We acknowledge that the data provided by Bloomberg in its COVID-19 Resilience Ranking may be useful in evaluating our pandemic response. The indicators used by Bloomberg include reopening progress, COVID-19 status, and quality of life. However, we have to consider that the 53 countries in the report have different COVID-19 experiences and strategies. There is little consideration for country-specific COVID-19 context, which in our view is imperative to objectively assess how countries managed pandemic response.
A case in point is the importance given by Bloomberg in reopening progress, which involves lockdown severity, flight capacity, and vaccinated travel routes. The evidence shows that the Alert Level system and the granular lockdowns that we implemented in November 2021 are some of the key interventions that have enabled us to effectively manage COVID-19 risks while providing for an environment conducive to economic growth.
Consider these positive results: (1) Active cases continue to fall with 425 active cases as of November 30, 2021––the lowest reported in 2021; (2) our latest positivity rate of 2.1% is one of the lowest since testing data became available in April 2020; (3) our 1.71% case fatality rate remains one of the lowest, with the Philippines ranked 84th in the world by the Johns Hopkins University; (4) there is no overcrowding in our hospitals, with metrics of hospital care utilization rate registering all below 30% as of November 30, 2021; and (5) we recently placed fifth highest in single-day vaccination rates worldwide, with 2.5 million doses administered yesterday during the first day of our Bayanihan, Bakunahan program.
It should also be noted that the Philippine economy grew 7.1 percent in the third quarter.
We reiterate that our goal is to strike a balance between the management of COVID-19 and the safe reopening of the economy––to protect lives and secure livelihoods. Having said this, our Economic Team will continue to put a greater emphasis on our country-specific conditions or context in order to craft policies that are more responsive to our people’s needs and the requisites of economic recovery.