CITING mainly the downward trend in the daily number of new confirmed coronavirus disease (Covid-19), a business leader said Bacolod City is now ready to open for business.
Frank Carbon, chief executive officer of Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI), said Mayor Evelio Leonardia is confident that the city is now qualified for an easier quarantine status.
Leonardia requested anew to downgrade the city's status to modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) following the announcement of President Rodrigo Duterte that Bacolod City is among the areas to remain under GCQ from November 1 to 30.
Carbon said hotels, resorts and restaurants are being readied by the City Tourism Office to accept customers and tourists.
"The City Emergency Operation Center (EOC), headed by the City Administrator Em Ang and General Mel Feliciano, discussed the possibility of lifting the prohibition of leisure and tourist travel to the city," he added.
Carbon, also the operator of Weesam Express, said ferry service between cities of Bacolod and Iloilo was tentatively set to resume operation on October 31.
He earlier stressed the need to open up intra-region trading and tourism so there has to be ferry services between the islands of Negros and Panay.
Leisure travel restrictions also have to be removed to make sea vessel operations economically viable.
Last week, the business sector had a meeting with some representatives of the city's economic recovery team led by former city administrator John Orola.
Carbon said the team will recommend more measures to generate more jobs and livelihood.
"The Land Bank of the Philippines, through its Rise Up Program is ready to assist local government units in their financial needs to implement programs that will increase the confidence of the businesses to open up and reinvest," he added.