Local businesses support vaccine passes for greater mobility, safe reopening of economy

Some local business leaders have rallied behind the proposed issuance of vaccine passes to help the nation return to normal faster.

According to Presidential Adviser on Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion, business groups recognized the these vaccine passes or proof of vaccination could help facilitate the safe reopening of businesses.

Concepcion earlier said vaccine passes, which could help ensure safe mobility in business and travel, could be considered once herd immunity is initially attained in National Capital Region.

“There is a lot riding on achieving herd immunity so we can revive businesses that have been crippled by the COVID-19 pandemic. There is also hope that vaccine passes can help ease into the new normal without the country backsliding into overrun hospitals and COVID-19 surges,” he said in a statement Thursday, May 20.

Concepcion admitted that targeting herd immunity in the entire country would be "very difficult," adding it will be prudent to start with NCR Plus.

“The key is herd immunity in the NCR-plus area,” he said. "We need to focus first on achieving herd immunity in the NCR-plus area to jumpstart the economy and slowly build from there,” he addd

In the statement released by Concepcion, Henry Lim Bon Liong, president of the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce & Industry welcomed the proposed launch of vaccine passes.

“It is something that everyone could use after we attain herd immunity. It would allow the better facilitation of LGUs and businesses to avoid super spreaders and somehow allow our businesses to open near their maximum capacity,” he said.

Eric Teng, who heads the Restaurant Owners of the Philippines (RestoPH) group, called for the careful implementation of vaccine passes. He suggested the issuance of 180-day vaccine passes, passes for vaccinated senior citizens, and optional use for businesses in order to avoid issues of discrimination.

“A vaccine pass can be used as a stop gap, pre-herd immunity management system, for a controlled re-opening of the restaurant industry,” he said.

Arthur Lopez of The Philippine Hotel Owners Association said vaccine passes “will allow vaccinated persons greater mobility in traveling around the country, dining and shopping in various establishments.”

These passes, Lopez said, would also "usher in the needed confidence to boost domestic travel movement which will augur well for the tourism sector and the future of our economy."

Concepcion is optimistic that herd immunity in NCR Plus will be attained soon amid the ongoing vaccination efforts. He said focusing on attaining herd immunity in these places, where majority of both COVID-19 cases and economic activity are concentrated, will have great impact on reviving the local economy.