CHAIR of the Cagayan de Oro City Council’s committee on trade and commerce Councilor George Goking on Friday urged the city government and Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) to reconsider some of the heightened health protocols, guidelines or restrictions they imposed to hotels and restaurants in the city.
“Further reopen the economy and trust the vaccinated individuals,” said Goking.
Earlier, the City Council adopted a resolution authored by Goking urging City Mayor Oscar Moreno and the city’s IATF to ease COVID-19 restrictions imposed during the General Community Quarantine (GCQ).
Considering that more Kagay-anons are now being vaccinated, Cagayan de Oro Hotel and Restaurant Association (COHARA) proposed that check-ins be allowed for vaccinated individuals who have at least received the first dose, regardless of purpose or age.
They also want restaurants to be able to cater to vaccinated individuals who have at least received the first dose, at 50-percent dining capacity.
The proponent, Goking said the government should also allow regulated meetings and some social events under GCQ to help the industry survive amid the pandemic.
He joined the clamor of business groups struggling to survive the city’s balancing act between putting more people back to work and containing the spread of COVID-19.
The prolonged lockdowns had been hurting minimum wage earners the most, according to Goking.
The government wants to trust the vaccine, the government must trust the vaccinated individuals too, he said.
“There is no other way out of it. Trust the vaccinated and that’s it,” said Goking.
Also part of Cohara’s position sent to the city council, is to allow or accept meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions under GCQ.
The association said innovations such as online platforms, though useful, have limited capabilities, resulting in increasing difficulties in supporting the workforce and sustaining operations.
The organization also proposed that social gatherings be allowed for vaccinated individuals at 50-percent function room capacity with minimum public health and safety protocols strictly observed.
It was also suggested that leisure stay be allowed for vaccinated individuals who have at least received the first dose.
“This position will greatly assist hotels financially to keep afloat during these challenging times during the pandemic," Goking said.
The Cohara said the concerned hotels vowed to comply with any proposed measures to ensure a safe experience for all stakeholders.
Hotels and restaurants have been greatly affected by the pandemic that more businesses are bound to stop operations or if it gets worse, permanently closed.
Goking and Councilor Ian Mark Q. Nacaya are the proponents of the resolution. (Ben Balce)
