‘Bakuna bubble’ gaining support – Concepcion

MANILA, Philippines — Presidential adviser for entrepreneurship and Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion yesterday said limiting the mobility of the unvaccinated may be done for the common good as he received support for his proposed “bakuna bubble” from various businesses such as malls, restaurants, retailers, gyms and salons as a way to safely open the economy and prevent its collapse.

In an online press conference yesterday, Concepcion said the proposal covers allowing malls in the National Capital Region (NCR) to accept both the vaccinated and unvaccinated and having individual shops within malls like restaurants, salons and gyms implement the bakuna bubble by allowing entry of the vaccinated by presenting a vaccination card and for the unvaccinated, a negative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction or antigen test with 48 hours or 72 hours before entry.

The proposal is being pushed to be implemented when NCR’s fully vaccinated population reaches 50 percent.

“Restricting full mobility of the unvaccinated is the price to pay, but this is not permanent since things can change when we get better. In any angle, this is justified since this simply aims to benefit the common good,” he said.

Economist Bernardo Villegas, one of the framers of the 1987 Constitution, said in the same event that “restricting a group of people is justified if it will benefit all.”

He said getting vaccinated is a contribution to the common good and those who claim enforcing vaccinations is in violation of human rights are violating the Constitution.

Concepcion said the proposed bakuna bubble is the way forward to save the economy as well as lives.

For his part, Ayala Malls president Christopher Maglanoc said malls support the proposed bakuna bubble as it would help retail segments such as restaurants, salons, gyms and cinemas hit hard by the pandemic and stimulate the economy.

“This initiative will certainly help these sectors, not to mention the multiplier effect of restoring employment and further fueling consumption and other economic activities,” he said, noting malls are experiencing low foot traffic of anywhere from 30 to 50 percent of pre-pandemic levels, while merchant sales are at 30 to 60 percent of what they were before the COVID-19.

As many malls have already secured safety seals from the government to show they comply with health protocols against COVID-19, Concepcion said it is possible to enforce the bubble.

Resto PH president Eric Teng said the proposed bakuna bubble would support the food and beverage sector.

“Being one of the badly-hit sectors, especially because of lockdowns, wherein most dine-in services are disallowed, bakuna bubble for restaurants will definitely help us,” he said.

McDonald’s Philippines managing director Margot Torres said the quick service restaurant wants to be able to welcome fully vaccinated individuals in its stores.

On concerns the proposal is discriminatory, she said it “is not favoring the vaccinated, but protecting the unvaccinated.”

Philippine Retailers Association president Rosemarie Ong said the group is in favor of implementing the bakuna bubble, citing the retail industry, which is among the most affected by intermittent lockdowns, can no longer survive if lockdowns would continue.

“We cannot rely solely on lockdowns. We believe we’ve experienced it, lockdowns didn’t work really. Although the intention is to really save our people, we are sacrificing the economy. Definitely, if this goes on, the economy will be hard hit,” she said.

Xcess Salon and Hued Salon president and chief executive officer Federico Moreno said the industry also cannot go on with continued lockdowns.

“We are not discriminating anyone. Our objective is to protect the unvaccinated and businesses to survive this pandemic,” he said.

For his part, Anytime Fitness Asia chief operating officer Ryan Cheal said gyms are also backing the proposed bakuna bubble and most of their employees in the gym industry are already vaccinated and safe to interact with.

Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines president Rey Untal, meanwhile, said the group is willing to help accelerate the opening of the economy through accelerated vaccination efforts.

Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines Foundation Inc. president Dan Lachica said they would also want to see accelerated vaccinations in local government units.