Biazon: Reopening of businesses should be 'localized,' synchronized with COVID vaccine plan

Muntinlupa Representative Ruffy Biazon on Thursday said the reopening of businesses should be "localized" or only in local government units that have started their COVID-19 vaccination.

"The reopening of businesses should be staggered and based on which LGUs have already implemented their respective COVID-19 vaccine plans," Biazon said in a statement.

"This way, we can ensure that the patrons going to these businesses will not be at risk for infection to the coronavirus and become unknowing vectors."

Biazon issued the statement amid the government's plan to reopen leisure establishments such as cinemas, museums, and video and interactive game arcades -- a plan opposed by several sectors, including local officials.

The lawmaker pointed out that the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IAFT) should synchronize the opening of sectors in the economy with that of the COVID-19 vaccine plan for that specific sector.

"We should identify sectors in the economy to open up, and the reopening should be tied in with a vaccination plan for that sector. This will help boost not just immunity, but more importantly, the confidence of consumers to actually patronize those businesses,” Biazon said.

He said if businesses were opened without a "confidence-building measure" such as a concrete vaccination plan, "the consumer response may not be enough to sustain the overhead cost."

Biazon added that this could also lead to a surge of COVID-19 infections.

Some mayors in Metro Manila have expressed apprehension on the reopening of leisure establishments, saying it is still risky for the public as the threat of COVID-19 is still there.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque announced that the reopening of traditional cinemas in areas under general community quarantine would be in March pending the release of guidelines on COVID-19 safety protocols. —Anna Felicia Bajo/KBK, GMA News