We are delighted by the 11.8% expansion of our GDP for the second quarter of 2021. This is a good indicator of the strategic balance and management being employed by the Duterte administration in reopening the economy, while responding and addressing the impacts generated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

With businesses, commerce, and the rest of the private sector ramping up their trade and economic activities, the government will continue its economic recovery policies, programs, and reforms, particularly the three-pillar strategy of accelerating the vaccination program, safely reopening of the economy while strictly adhering to public health protocols, and the full implementation of the recovery package, in order to assist the whole private sector in adapting to the new normal.

As we are now out of recession, for the time being, and our strong economic recovery in 2021 remains prospective, we continue to remind everyone that it’s only by working together and doing our part by observing all health protocols being promulgated by the government that we will be able to maintain the current economic momentum.

We also encourage everyone to participate in the government's Prevent, Detect, Isolate, Treat, Reintegrate, and Vaccinate (PDITRV) strategy, so that we may fully heal from the COVID-19 pandemic as one nation.

SEC. MARTIN M. ANDANAR

Manila, 10 August 2021