Editorial: Going back to business

Editorial Cartoon by John Gilbert Manantan
Editorial Cartoon by John Gilbert Manantan

SO WE’RE taking breathing exercises into the new normal as businesses otherwise shut during rigid quarantine now operate at 30 percent.

Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella has issued Executive Order 88, which outlines a new set of protocols as the city eases into general community quarantine (GCQ). This order we hope contains some of the takeaways from the earlier GCQ, which created an unfortunate spike in the number of Covid-19 cases in the metro’s main city.

The reopening of businesses comes in the wake of the Social Weather Station’s July 3-6 survey that reported that the Philippines’ adult unemployment hit a record-high of 45.5 percent as the country’s economy staggers in the Covid-19 crisis.

The SWS survey in December 2019 showed there was 17.5 percent of adult labor force that were jobless. This means the health crisis in the first half of this year added 28 percent to the number of jobless Filipinos. In translation, this means that there are now 27.3 million Filipinos who are jobless while the economy continuously shrinks into recession, a first in the last 30 years.

This is the weight at the opposite side of public health in the tricky balancing act of managing the crisis. Meanwhile, it could be good news as well that Bayanihan 2’s relief package did not eventually allow a one-year blanket moratorium on all loan payments. Sectors react that this will strain the banks and eventually further damage the economy.

With Cebu City’s GCQ, gyms and internet shops have been added into the list of establishments allowed to operate in the city. Also allowed to operate are those in the service industries such as on personal care (except body massage), cosmetic, fitness studios (group workouts not allowed), test and tutorial centers (at 10 persons maximum), review centers (only for health-related professions), drive-in cinemas and pet grooming services.

Still prohibited are businesses that inherently create crowds or close-contact such as entertainment industries, cultural centers, museums, libraries, archives, tattoo and body piercing, body massage and live performances. Apparently, gambling centers and bars are still not allowed.

The mayor’s order has also laid down protocols for continuous monitoring of workers’ health status. The City will hold random tests in business establishments. There is a whole set of procedures to follow in case a Covid-19 case is identified in these workplaces.

We all hope things would go well in the coming weeks, even as we remain vigilant against any sign of resurgence in number of cases.

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