BUSINESSES in Cebu have been on the road to recovery since the start of the year, but they are expected to sacrifice their third quarter potential earnings due to the fast-spreading Delta variant.
Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Felix Taguiam said if the current modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) will be upgraded, businesses may have to brace for impacts.
The Covid-19 Delta variant is raising concerns that the new outbreak could be a drag on the economic recovery and earnings of businesses.
“If ever higher authorities declare a higher quarantine status, the business community will have to accept it even though it is not good for our sector,” he said, adding that such sacrifice is for a better fourth quarter business performance.
Cebu continues to log rising Covid-19 positive cases with hospitals scrambling to respond to the third Covid-19 surge.
Since last year, businesses have been adapting to new normal practices with the help of technology which has given rise to virtual meetings, purchasing via digital payment and other online services, Taguiam said.
“It may have a setback on actual store requirements but it gave rise to other options,” he said.
Taguiam urged the public to cooperate to contain the spread of the Delta variant.
“We will have a difficult situation now for a better last quarter. Just practice the minimum health protocols. Wear a mask, face shield. Practice hand washing and social distancing,” he said.
More importantly, the CCCI president said people should get vaccinated against the virus.
More areas under MECQ
With businesses struggling again due to the current community quarantine status in Cebu, the Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) said granular lockdowns are feasible to protect both lives and livelihood.
Cebu Province on Monday, Aug. 9, 2021 topped the list of provinces and cities with the highest cases of Covid-19 in the country at 664 new infections.
Later that day, Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia tweaked the national guidelines on the use of rapid antigen tests and ordered that granular lockdowns be imposed per purok instead of per barangay.
On Aug. 10, Garcia placed eight towns and three component cities in Cebu Province under MECQ with heightened restrictions starting Wednesday, Aug. 11, due to their increasing number of Covid-19 cases.
These are the towns of Consolacion, Liloan, Cordova, Minglanilla, Sibonga, Samboan, Argao and Oslob and the cities of Talisay, Naga and Carcar.
“Judging from the financial health of the business community and the rising cases, sustaining the existing restrictions with granular lockdowns is a workable option as of the moment,” Yu told SunStar Cebu.
Yu said one of the things that assured the business community is the united stand of Cebu local government executives in working together to arrest the rising cases.
Mandaue, for its part, has attained 40 percent of its first dose vaccination rate among the eligible population, with the other LGUs closely following.
“We would like to continue to enjoin everyone to follow the current health protocols as prescribed,” he said.
The Department of Health has placed Cebu Province as well as the cities of Cebu, Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu under Alert Level 4, an early warning system that guides local government units (LGUs) on how to address an outbreak. Under Alert Level 4, the highest classification, are LGUs with moderate to critical risk classification and more than 70 percent healthcare utilization.
The LGU, under Alert Level 4, must impose granular lockdowns, undertake active case finding and use rapid antigen test, urgently increase hospital beds, ensure enough oxygen supply, ensure accessibility of PhilHealth benefits for Covid-19 patients and immediately refer severely and critically ill patients. (JOB)