The lifting of the state of public health emergency due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) benefits the business sector as the pronouncement have boosted confidence. People flocked to business establishments following the announcement of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr over the weekend, Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas said in an interview on Monday. ‘This is very good for our business community,’ he said, adding that after two years, it is now their chance to recover from the health pandemic’s negative impact on livelihood. In a separate interview on Tuesday, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI)-Iloilo City chapter president Fulbert Woo said the move of the President would boost the hospitality business like restaurants, resorts, and hotels, among others. He added they would like to see an increase in traffic from the vulnerable groups or the elderly since they have noticed more youths going out already even before the lifting of the public health emergency. ‘Those are the numbers that we are expecting to come out to the market to do trading or business, adding to the purchasing powers of Ilonggos,’ Woo said. He added that member establishments have protocols in place to keep their consumers safe, such as the provision of alcohol for hand sanitizing. The PCCI has 150 micro, small, and medium entrepreneur members, 95 percent of which are based in the city. Meanwhile, Treñas said the city government would continue to operate its molecular laboratory; swab tests would remain free for indigents and students. He also encouraged especially those in the medical field to submit to vaccination since there are still Covid-19 cases although they are mild and already on a downward trend. As of July, Iloilo City has 17 active infections, including three new cases, out of the 988 confirmed cases since January. It has 949 recoveries and 22 deaths

Source: Philippines News Agency