With the ongoing “new normal” development in status quo, the Region 7 LGUs together with private sectors launched the Project Balik Buhay with the aim of responsible re-establishment of the communities particularly the businesses in the midst of the pandemic crisis.
Project Balik Buhay (PBB) is an 18-month period multi-stakeholder plan based on science and evidence for the transition from enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) to general community quarantine (GCQ).
PBB is also a collaborative initiative between Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas (OPAV), Department of Health (DOH-7), Cebu, Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu LGUs as well as the Coalition of Chambers and Business Membership Organizations.
In the press conference, the Chambers and Business Membership Organizations presidents call everyone to prepare for the June 1 opening of businesses and to the Chamber members to redo the workplace environments in accordance to the DTI, DOH and DOLE guidelines.
They also highlighted the balance of the observation of health measures, prevention control and treatment of the disease and the extension of compassion, solidarity and humanity to help everyone survive.
“The Project Balik Buhay is our passport to achieve the balance and usher us to the new norm,” they emphasized.
They also suggested the need to redesign the old city living by implementing more health conscious protocols that improve life expectancy and quality and prioritizing the need for buses over the PUVs.
They also warned the disruption of the economy may continue to hurt the people’s enterprise and livelihood which would lead to more suffering and hunger, thus, the need to gradually open the businesses again with the mandated health protocols.
“There is the need to balance life and economy. We cannot simply wait for the virus to be completely eradicated,” they advised.
Dr. Mary Jane Loreche, Chief Pathologist of DOH-7 shares how the testing of the 10% of the households of Cebu, Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu can be a sufficient population sample in determining the areas with the higher community transmissions. Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue have already achieved more than the given percentage while Cebu is met with difficulties due to few participants, thus, only the samples from Cebu will be continually received.
Regional Development Council-7 Chairman Kenneth Cobonpue also reiterated that part of the PBB would be mandatory testing of the employees before going back to work similar to the procedure in the Luzon areas.
Cobonpue also proudly stated that the tri-cities (Cebu, Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu) are the only LGUs in the country who has created the calculated, scientific and evidence-based mass testing.
“A lot of news agencies have been asking how it was possible in Cebu. I think it’s because there is a strong synergy between the public and private sector we have here,” he explained.
The Project Balik Buhay released some guidelines and the business classifications for opening of work during the General Community Quarantine.
All identified companies under Phase 1, 2, and 3a will be required to do 100 percent rapid testing on all their employees, as a pre-requisite for the resumption of operations. All tests shall be shouldered by the private companies 100 percent.
For businesses who are interested to join, kindly send us the following details: Complete Name, Company, and Mobile Number and send to 09151623422 and we will give you a slot to participate in the next PBB Orientation.
For more information on the Project Balik Buhay, one may call or text 09655346501 (Jezreel) or 09151623422 (Bien) or email at bien@cebuchamber.org.
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