“Radiating positivity, creating connectivity” CEBU April 27 - May 3, 2020 P15.00 BUSINESSVolume 2 Series 32 12 PAGES Room 310-A, 3rd floor WDC Bldg. Osmeña Blvd., Cebu City WEEK You may visit Cebu Business Week Facebook page. LEADERS URGE: OPEN ECONOMY Need to balance fight vs. COVID-19 and saving businesses GOVERNMENT and in the same situation. For ex- economy afloat. “Once the business op- have not yet received it, Soco business leaders in Cebu ample, a small business can “We implement several eration resumes, you have to gave his employees his own have began to advocate onlythe pay the rent and pow- measures to fight Covid-19pay it. But where can you get company assistance, and opening of the once vibranter consumption if they have to prevent the people fromthe money when you have no granted them cash advance. local economy. sales, Espeleta said. dying, yet we should also notcash flow?” asked Soco. “Our priority is our em- Cebu City Councilor Ray- “That situation happens allow our economy from col- If a big business firm has ployees. In fact, they are not mond Alvin Garcia said they in normal times. But at these lapsing,” Soco said. big savings, it’s easy to re- included in the social ame- are now balancing the fight abnormal times, they are on Soco cited that if a busi- sume business. If a compa- lioration program of the gov- against the coronavirus dis- the brink of collapse,” said ness is closed because of the ny has big debts, it will -borernment,” Soco said. ease or Covid-19 and reviving Espeleta, an immediate past Enhanced Community Quar- row money again for fresh Meanwhile, Jun Cubarol, the once vibrant Cebu econo- president of the Cebu Cham- antine (ECQ), this means capital. But how about the the president of the Visayas my which is on the brink of ber of Commerce and Indus- that business has no sales, MSMEs? Where do they get United Truckers Association collapse. try (CCCI). so no cash flow. Yet the busi- fresh capital? Inc. (VUTAI), said they con- “That is something we According to Garcia, nessman had already issued Soco who is also a busi- tinue to give salaries to their have to consider. We reopen while we are fightingchecks to pay for some obli- nessman has applied for cash employees and even extend- our economy otherwise sev- Covid-19, we also want gationsa safe, before the outbreak, assistance from the Depart- ed assistance to those who eral businesses will go bank- healthy Cebu City economichow can he possibly make ment of Labor and Employ- refused to work. rupt and workers will perma- activity. the checks good?” ment (DOLE). Although they “We released part of their nently lose jobs. At the same “We may open first the 13th month pay plus 25 kilos time, we continue some mea- offices, call centers, and rice per employee. We thank sures to eradicate Covid-19 take-out restaurants. We will God we were able to help our which is a real threat to pub - not yet open the malls and employees,” Cubarol said. lic health,” Garcia told Cebu non-essential industries. But Businessman Rey E. Business Week. I feel and I believe that we Calooy said that we need to Businessman Virgilio “No- should open an economic ac- balance health and wealth. noy” Espeleta, the chairman tivity no matter how small it He estimated that the 14.15 of the Economic Development is. We will open other indus- million employed people be- Committee (EDC) of the Re- tries gradually,” Garcia said. fore Covid-19 will become gional Development Council Cebu Board Member unemployed after the ECQ is (RDC), earlier said 90-95 - perGlenn Soco, on the other lifted. cent of Cebu’s economy consist hand, said he wished the Calooy cited a report of Micro, Small and Medium government will slowly re- that said nearly 60 percent Enterprises (MSMEs). turn the economic activity of people who have lost their If there are families who in the country because while jobs due to the coronavirus are on “hand-to-mouth” exis- we want to eradicate the- vi pandemic are women. ELIAS tence, there are also MSMEs rus, we also want to keep the O. BAQUERO 2 April 27 - May 3, 2020 Cebu Business Week LOCAL Business group wants low water rates An association of Micro, to be low it can hamper the effects of the pandemic and Small and Medium Enter- program of the Department are facing higher water bills prises (MSMEs) has sug- of Agriculture (DA) to especially that water utilities gested waiving the payment encourage urban gardening. have some add-on fees. of water rates to those who “The people who have He said that should have minimum consumption agricultural spaces in the deferred payment schemes and discounts for those who city have stopped planting be allowed and discounts consume beyond it. due to lack of water. So, or reduced rates extended, Rey E. Calooy, chairman Board Member Glenn Soco consumer bills which would of the Filceb Business Club must also help ensure the have to be paid after the Inc., an association of abundance of water aside lifting of the Enhanced MSMEs with more than 200 from passing a resolution Community Quarantine may company members, however, bringing down water rates,” be lessened. said our main problem is low Calooy said. Soco likewise called upon water supply especially this Soco is set to file a REY E. CALOOY, Chairman of the Filceb Business Club Inc. the Local Water Utilities time of summer. resolution in the Cebu Administration (LWUA) He said that even if they Provincial Board calling means, among others, extend plight of the people affectedand other instrumentalities are nearer to Metropolitan independent water discounts, incentives and/ by Corona Virus Diseaserelated to and connected Cebu Water District producers, suppliers and or generally reduce water (Covid-19) resulting to loss withof water supply and (MCWD) wells in distributorsTalisay to exhaustconsumption rate. income and jobs. distribution to explore and City, their water effortssupply in identifyingis and Soco, in his draft Soco said hundreds implement measures in order still on rationing. exploring schemes in orderresolution, wants the Province of thousands of water to ultimately help reduce and Calooy said that if our to relieve the consumers ofof Cebu to enjoin these consumers are struggling cut-down on water rates. water supply will continue water charges in all possiblecompanies to reconsider the with the negative economicELIAS O. BAQUERO Soco urges power utilities to cut rates Cebu Board Member rise significantly. During thesethis week praying that electric in identifying and exploring they pay for their electricity Glenn Soco has urged times, household appliances companies extend discounts ways and schemes in order usage; and the Macro, Small power utilities to provide and personal gadgets are and incentives to consumers to relieve the consumers and Medium Enterprises discounts and suspension or oftentimes being used. who are struggling with the of electricity charges in all (MSMEs) which have been moratorium of payments of Moreover, as the negativesummer economic effects possible means, among others, affected. their consumers. season had commenced,of the Corona Virus Diseaseextend discounts, incentives He said the suspension Soco told Cebu Business frequent use of household(Covid-19) pandemic, yetand/or generally reduce or or moratorium and deferred Week that electricity is one ventilation/cooling appliances may be consuming higherdecrease electricity rates. payment arrangement of of the most important utility and devices are expected with household electricity charges. Soco added that the electricity charges offered by necessary in each home. the rising temperature. This, aside from suspendingelectric companies are some electric companies is a He said that in view of On the other hand, Soco and imposing moratorium on enjoined to feel keenly about welcome. It is duly recognized the strict implementation said electricity is likewise payment deadlines. and reconsider the plight and appreciated. However, it of quarantine protocols that considered a staple necessity Soco said the Province and circumstances of each would be of greater assistance forced everyone to stay at in most business operations. of Cebu calls on the different and every consumer who to consumers if electricity home; surge in the electricity Soco will file a resolution electric companies and power may have reduced income, or costs are significantly cut or consumption is expected toin the Cebu Provincial Board generators to exhaust efforts worse have lost their jobs, yet reduced. ELIAS O. BAQUERO DTI Cebu Province realigns measure 7 desalination deals in 2020 CHAIRMAN Joey Daluz Daluz said the Cebu City for free movement of goods of the Metropolitan Cebu water desalination projects Water District (MCWD) told will have a lower water rate if Pursuant to Executive Order No. 5-Q or Van Cebu Business Week that Labella will allow the use of of the Cebu Provincial Government, DTI c. Company ID of one (1) Driver and one they closed seven water deals the properties. Cebu Provincial Office is now re-aligning (1) Assistant per Truck or Van to email: within this year as expected “With these projects, its processing of certifications for the For Manufacturing: by the people. we will surely have enough unhampered movement of cargoes of basic [email protected] Daluz, who is also the water. We will do it and essential goods (raw materials, semi- cc. [email protected] special assistant to Cebu simultaneously with water processed and/or finished products). [email protected] City Mayor Edgar Labella,pipe laying,” Daluz said. Qualified exempt enterprises will have For Retailers: said that the seven water He said that it is to apply and register online and submit the [email protected] desalination projects are unfortunate that they scanned copies of documentary requirements* cc.