Negros Oriental businessmen have assured the sufficient supply of basic necessities in the wake of the abnormal situation brought about by the coronavirus threat.
Edward Du, regional governor for the Visayas of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce & Industry Inc., said he has been assured by the local businessmen that there is no shortage of food and other necessities.
Maayo Shipping Co., and Matiao Trucking Services have declared they will continue regular trips for cargo to and from Cebu City, which is the major source of supplies for Negros Oriental businessmen.
With this assurance, Du said there is no need for a law limiting the amount of necessities that people can buy in the grocery stores.
“The only shortage we are facing is the shortage of face masks, alcohol, and other CoViD-related items,” he said.
Rice traders in Dumaguete and Negros Oriental have also assured the Sangguniang Panlunsod of Dumaguete they have sufficient supply of rice that could last for the next one or two months.
Eddie Uy of Payalin Trading, and concurrently director of the Negros Oriental Chamber of Commerce & Industry, said their only problem is how to transport rice from Manila in the absence of ships that will ship them to the provinces as a result of the lockdown.
Another problem, he said, is the lack of ships to bring the imported rice from Vietnam and Thailand to Manila, that could result in delays.
Danford Sy of New Bian Yek Commercial also cautioned the public against panic-buying because there is sufficient supply of the Philippine staple.
Sy said they will also not refuse bulk-buying of rice, nor limiting to certain sacks, aware of the fact that their inventories can last up to one month or more.
The association of pharmacies earlier assured Mayor Remollo there is enough supply of medicines.
They, however, have the same concern with that of the rice traders on how to transport their injectables and other refrigerated supplies from Manila in the absence of flights to and from Manila and vice versa.
For now, their stocks can last up to 15 days.
Dante Matiao of Maayo Shipping, on the other hand, lamented what he described as the lack of coordination among local government units in implementing lockdowns, resulting in losses to businessmen, including the trucking business.
Du said it is still too early to determine the economic impact of CoViD-19 crisis, as it has only been less than two months since the crisis started.
But he said this is really a bad time for businesses who are dependent solely on “walk-in” customers, and a good time for those in the alcohol, facemask, and vitamins businesses.
In relation to CoViD 19, Du said the business sector is also pushing for a moratorium on all bank loan amortizations that are due in the next six months.
He said another recommendation is to fasttrack the Build, Build Build projects to provide jobs to displaced workers.
The businessmen are also asking the LGUs and national government agencies to set up a special Emergency Employment and MSME Assistance Fund for all affected employers and displaced workers, and for LGUs to pass local ordinances promoting more e-commerce and online businesses, such as the NOCCI FreeWiFi Ordinance and the Work-from-Home Ordinance.
Du also noted that in the midst of this crisis, food delivery services have had phenomenal success.
He said there has also been more video-conferencing sessions these days, and an increased demand and consumption of locally-produced products due to logistical challenges.
“And finally, the business sector is now closer to our good Lord!,” Du remarked, noting that more and more businessmen are turning to prayer for relief of their economic worries. (Juancho Gallarde)
