BUSINESS groups in Cebu are appealing to their member companies to comply with the random testing protocols and other guidelines to show support for the Project Balik Buhay initiative.
The groups issued a joint advisory to member companies and business owners to support the multi-sectoral and tri-city program in ramping up livelihood during the Covid-19 pandemic on Tuesday, May 5, 2020.
“We cannot afford a second spike after lifting our enhanced community quarantine (ECQ). We do not want to be blamed as the source of new spikes of Covid-19; hence, we appeal that only those who are ready and committed to fully comply shall resume its operation,” the advisory read.
The major business groups, namely Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Cebu Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Mepzem Chamber Inc., and Philippine Retailers Association-Cebu Chapter supported the call.
The Project Balik Buhay is a multi-stakeholder plan that aims to balance economic sustainability and public health security of the three highly urbanized component cities of Cebu -Lapu-Lapu, Mandaue and Cebu City, within an 18-month period. The project was created to lay the guidelines of the gradual re-opening of the communities and businesses through a calibrated, scientific and evidence-based transition from ECQ to modified community quarantine with required testing and compliance to new health protocols.
The group said even if the business sector can tolerate the ECQ for another week, the government with the private sector should already start working together in finding ways to scale back the quarantine to selective lockdown.
“We shift our focus to saving the economy from a complete collapse, while at the same time fight the spread of Covid-19, because to extend this indefinitely would be very difficult,” it said.
Guidelines
The guidelines include that the priority sectors to resume business operations are those with low risks of spreading the novel coronavirus and with significant economic impact while the high-risk businesses or those operating in an uncontrolled environment are not advised to operate yet.
There is also the need to comply with the new workplace health standards to control transmission of the virus. Each business entity should also designate a health and infectious disease officer who will supervise the Covid-19 initiatives in the workplace.
The guidelines also include the need to conduct rapid tests on all returning employees followed by periodic random tests to ensure that the workplace is safe.
It also highlighted the need to ensure that the management undertakes full responsibility in complying with the new government directives, local government unit (LGU) ordinances and executive orders while actively liaising with the barangay, LGU, Department of Health and other government agencies.