THE country’s umbrella group of housing and real estate industry stakeholders has joined major business groups in calling for a full return to the workplace of key segments of the economy as the Philippines heads toward the post-pandemic normalcy.
The Chamber of Real Estate & Builders’ Associations Inc. (Creba) is one with multi-sectoral appeal led by Ayala Land, Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines, Go Negosyo, Management Association of the Philippines, Megaworld, Philconstruct, Philippines Retailers Association, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Resto PH, Robinsons Land and SM Prime.
Creba agreed that the overall economic activity in the country has been drastically stalled by the Covid-19 pandemic for a couple of years, thus, resulting in the 9.6 percent contraction of GDP in 2020.
The group shared in the position of government and private sectors’ leaders, as well as micro, small and medium enterprises that major economic centers going back to business are a vital milestone towards recovery. It lauded the fast roll-out of vaccination that now stands at 70.4 percent in Metro and 57.1 percent nationwide which has helped significantly slowdown new daily cases of infection at 598 as of March 17, thereby allowing for relaxed interzonal and intrazonal travel regardless of age and comorbidities.
Under Alert Level 1, establishments have been given the green light to operate on site at full capacity subject to compliance with minimum public health standards. According to Creba National Chairman Charlie A. V. Gorayeb, a boost in business activities will benefit the whole nation and spur its return to economic wellness.