CEBU City's executive order (EO) in giving vaccinated individuals the privilege to dine-in in restaurants and other commercial establishments is giving hope to the business community.
Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Felix Taguiam said the Cebu model is now being taken into consideration by Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship and Go Negosyo Founder Joey Concepcion.
"Though we are strictly on a phase by phase opening wherein non-essentials and dine-in on a certain percentage only for vaccinated customers while al fresco open to all, for the past few days we are seeing some economic activity going around," Taguiam said.
The tri-cities Covid-19 active cases count decreased significantly with the city of Cebu logging only two-digit number of cases.
"Cebu City has been leading in the vaccinated population and the second dose numbers are doing high now," he said.
Taguaim noted the lowering of reported cases last week and asked for everyone's cooperation in getting vaccinated.
"The economy has to move and many are depending on businesses to open," he said.
While the business community is encouraged by the decreasing number of cases in Cebu island, the dire projections of Octa Research for areas outside Cebu constantly hang over the business sector's head, Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Steven Yu said.
"It serves as a constant reminder to us that we cannot afford to loosen our exercise of minimum health protocols, and should continue to help spread vaccine confidence. Honestly, there is much uncertainty ahead of us, but the solution is to continue to follow protocols and regulations," he said.
Yu said they also heard that vaccine bubbles are implemented in many developed countries all over the world, and that it is a "plausible idea."
"The Bakuna Bubble as proposed confers more mobility benefits to the vaccinated but does not in any way mean more restrictions for the unvaccinated," he said.
Yu advised the public not to react immediately but should spend time to understand more its intended logic and outcome.
With the onset of the Ber months, aside from helping foster the festive mood of the season, Yu said the vaccine bubble should be fine tuned in time for the fourth quarter
"(That's) when we are also expected to attain herd immunity. Herd immunity and vaccine bubble will deliver a huge difference when attained," he said. (JOB)