CEBU’S business community has welcomed the ramping up of the Covid-19 vaccination efforts for essential and economic workers slated next month.

Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Felix Taguiam said the constant arrival of the vaccines and the continued vaccination rollout spell the resumption of economic activities in Cebu.

“Let’s all cooperate. This is the only way to open up more of our economy as we are really seeing the downward trend. Let’s not be complacent, and we have to respect each other by doing the minimum safety health protocols,” he said.

As the Department of Health and the local government units are ramping up the vaccination program, Taguiam said the Project Balik Buhay (PBB) is encouraging the private companies to stir up more of their employees to be vaccinated, and for cause-oriented groups like the Cebu Citizens’ Initiative to beef up information awareness even at the grassroots level.

Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Steven Yu said the coming together and collaboration of the public and private sectors through the PBB Vaccination Centers is a game changer in Cebu.

“It has helped hasten the vaccination of workers and ease up the total process,” he said.

Yu said they are expecting to start the vaccination of the A4 priority group this June.

The group consists of essential economic frontliners, and their inoculation is a big step in helping businesses recover from the Covid-19 pandemic because it will immediately boost the confidence of both workers and consumers.

“It feels different to be vaccinated. It has both physical and psychological effects. It makes a person more productive, positive and hopeful. It makes them produce more and consume more, and this is officially the start of our path to recovery--the beginning of the end of the pandemic finally happening,” Yu said.

Rey Calooy, chairman of the Filipino Cebuano Business Club, said the vaccination has to be hastened as the economic recovery hinges on it.

“Many businesses are waiting to get vaccinated. As more vaccines arrive, vaccination should be fast- tracked,” he said. (JOB)