Pasay City Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano has assured the city’s businessmen that
the city government is meeting the challenges of the pandemic to make businesses in Pasay thrive.
“As a public servant, I would just like to assure you that Pasay as an LGU [local government unit] is meeting the challenges of the pandemic. And we are doing our best to make businesses here in our city thrive despite [the obstacles],” Mayor Emi said, during the 29th Metro Manila Business Conference hosted by Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry–National Capital Region (PCCI-NCR) chapter, wherein she also discussed the common concerns that affect both governance and business.
She added: “As mother and mayor of Pasay I fully understand the issues being faced by the businesses in this pandemic, we share the same governance and economic concerns on employment, generating income, adjusting to new realities, safety and health of our personnel, and the long term effects of Covid-19 on the strength and viability of our institutions.”
Recently, prominent officials of Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP), Philippine Exporters Confederation (PhilExport) and Philippine Hotel Owners Association (PHOAI) formed Sulong Pasay to work with the Pasay City local government unit as well as other sectors in the society to come up with solutions that would stir economic growth with health protocols in mind.
Among the conveners of Sulong Pasay are PCCI chair Alegria Limjoco, PCCI President and former Ambassador Benedicto Yujuico, PCCI Director Injap Sia, PCCI Director former Tourism Secretary Mina Gabor, ECOP President Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr., PhilExport Chairman George Barcelon, PHOAI President Arthur Lopez and Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) Chairman and former Finance Secretary Jose Pardo.
“These are real and urgent concerns that we need to face. You have a very timely theme, ‘Innovation for Sustainable Entrepreneurship.’ Innovation is truly the intervention that we need, both internally among ourselves and from the government,” she said.
The mayor also tackled the apparent shift in doing business in which she highlighted the emergence of online trading as one of the most dominant business modes nowadays.
“These days, an online presence is important. Physical distancing imposes restrictions to customer mobility, therefore you bring your products and services to the customer,” she said stressing that online ordering and delivery are booming.
“Delivery apps and social media platforms show resilience and growth. This shows that companies need to innovate and adjust or be left behind,” she said as she expressed full support to online businesses, noting that the government must find ways to make the system work efficiently and effectively.
“As this might develop some more, government must provide smooth and easy regulatory atmosphere for innovation. There should always be partnership and coordination between the private and government sector,” she pointed out.
Likewise, Calixto-Rubiano pushed for the ‘green’ way of conducting business noting that it’s about time to take full care and give attention to the environment.
“Sustainable entrepreneurship also means taking care of the environment. People are more aware that we need to have a healthy planet. Businesses should be at the forefront of environment for protection,” she stressed.
“Minimize waste, accelerate recycling, explore alternative sources of power that are more eco-friendly,” she added.
In closing, the mayor assured the traders of her unwavering support as she urged them to make known to her their concerns.
“Let us all work together and work hard to succeed and hurdle the challenges of the pandemic, in the meantime, let’s all keep safe and healthy,” she concluded.