A GROUP of medical, academe and business leaders have joined forces for a massive information drive to complement the government’s Covid-19 response.
Called Cebu Covid-19 Citizens Initiative (CCI Initiative), the groups have “banded together to raise consciousness and help shape public behavior so we could all, as a community, truly contribute to contain the health and economic crisis.”
“We are wary that the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) has been extended in Cebu City with the rest of Cebu still in general community quarantine until July 15. We are anxious the quarantine will continue beyond if everyone will not shape up,” the newly formed group said.
CCI Initiative is composed of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Cebu Medical Society, Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP)-Cebu Chapter, Rotary International District 3860, JCI Senate Cebu, University of San Carlos (USC), Chamber of Real Estate and Builders’ Associations Inc. and Professionals for Active Citizenship and Transformation.
“We have suffered so much over the past four months. Jobs and business opportunities have been lost. People are suffering, especially those who need to work every day to feed their families. No one is spared,” it said.
University of San Carlos president Fr. Narciso A. Cellan Jr., SVD said many Cebuanos are experiencing anxiety and fear, and it is a concern everyone is dealing with.
“This kind of initiative is very relevant and potentially impactful as we join our voices to create a narrative,” he said.
The group urged Cebuanos to take the situation seriously by following the anti-Covid-19 rules and guidelines in place.
“We are in a war. Let us all rise and fight. Our lives and those of our loved ones depend on how we battle this unseen force. This is our fight. The best way to fight is for us to stay home and we need to sacrifice in unison, in the spirit of cooperation. We can do what people power truly is,” the group said.
Fr. Roberto “Bobby” Ebisa, SVD, of the KBP, promised to support the initiative.
He said there will be 15 KBP stations that will broadcast the real situation of what’s going on in the city and serve as the mouthpiece in the battle against Covid-19. (JOB)