Shifting status of city ‘burdens’ biz sector

As the city shifts to a stricter modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ), the local business sector is again faced with uncertainty as to how they will adjust their operations that are already hurting because of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

The national Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) announced that the city will be placed under MECQ effective on Sept 25 to Oct 9, 2020.

The announcement came after Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas requested the national task force to place the city under stricter quarantine following the surge in COVID-19 cases.

Treñas also issued Executive Order Nos. 149 and 149-A mandating stricter health protocols in Iloilo City from September 24 up to October 9.

The total liquor ban was imposed on the metro including adjusted curfew hours from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m.

The orders also limited the operations of public and private establishments to 50 percent and the capacity of public transport particularly jeepneys which should follow the one-seat-apart policy.

Banks and other financial institutions will be allowed to open until 1 p.m.

Non-essential services such as salon/barbershops; spas, gyms, and studios; internet café; beerhouses and other entertainment establishments; review centers; libraries, museums; tourists destinations; and travel agencies were ordered closed.

Lea Lara executive director of the Iloilo Business Club (IBC) said the new quarantine status of the city meant additional hurdles to the business sectors who have already suffered losses due to the pandemic.

“Mabudlay gid because wala kita sing kasiguraduhan. We are full of uncertainties. But we have to adjust and make necessary changes,” she said in a previous interview.

According to Lara, almost all businesses are just slowly recovering from the losses that they incurred for the past months due to the pandemic. Unfortunately, other business opted to close down.

“Kalabanan sa mga businesses sa syudad amat-amat pa lang nga nagabawi sa ila nangin kapirdihan sa nagligad nga mga binulan. Other businesses nagsira na lang because they cannot cope up with their expenses. Those who are dependent on the traffic-mga services oriented I don’t think makabawi because they need to operate with these health protocols,” she lamented.

Despite the challenges, Lara said they will continue to heed the decision of the local government unit (LGU) even if it means stricter community quarantine.

Lara added that the local business sector will always support the decision of the public officials as they too prioritize the safety of their employees and their customers.

“Our priority is also the safety of our employees especially may mga contaminated workplaces. Macooperate gid kita sa mga LGUs, we respect and admire their dedication,” she said.

With the implementation of the MECQ, it will force local business sector to make necessary adjustments such as adjusted manpower, hours, and expenses on top of the stricter health protocols that they will have to impose.

On Saturday, Treñas once again said that it will request the IATF through a letter to place the city to a more relaxed General Community Quarantine (GCQ) on Monday, September 28.

The mayor said the decision came after he met with the business community and the Iloilo City Covid-19 Team.

Treñas said the city may shift to GCQ since barangays which were initially placed on lockdown recorded fewer or almost no new positive cases. (ERS)