TO STRIKE a balance between economy and health, an official of the Filipino-Cebuano Business Club (FilCeb) is urging consumers to patronize business establishments that follow the government’s mandated safety protocols.

“Patronize businesses that practice safety protocols. This is to help restore the most impacted businesses,” said Rey Calooy, chairman of FilCeb, adding that this is one of the ways consumers could help Cebu’s economy return to its healthy levels while at the same time helping the local government contain the Covid-19 transmission.

He noted that this will also motivate more establishments to comply with the government’s Covid-19 protocols if they want to have a good following from consumers.

The Cebu City Police Office, barangay officials and the Business Permit and Licensing Office recently launched a city-wide Oplan Bulabog where they conduct surprise visits to business establishments to make sure that they are following the minimum health standards.

Calooy said the business organization is helping its fellow micro, small and medium entrepreneurs to rise above the pandemic. However, he said, this can only be possible with the collaboration of both the private and public sectors.

“The government plays an important role in business and in boosting consumer confidence. Effective implementation of the protocols is a top priority,” he said.

Calooy said FilCeb has been looking out for each other, making sure that all members adhere to the safety measures.

“We should adhere to the most critical protocols going forward to keep high quality customer experience. Because if you’re not going to do that, you’re not going to have customers in the first place,” he said.

Calooy said the third quarter economic performance of the country should serve as a wakeup call to everyone to innovate while carefully navigating the new business landscape because failing to do such would put the economy into a more difficult situation.

The Philippine economy shrank 11.5 percent year-on-year in the third quarter from a contraction of 16.9 percent in the second quarter.

The government’s economic managers said this indicates that the “economy is on the mend.”

“The path is clearer to a strong bounce-back in 2021,” their joint statement said. (JOB)