Business groups, OCTA back 'population protection'

Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Jose Maria "Joey" Concepcion 3rd said some local business groups led by Go Negosyo and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) joined hands with the OCTA Research group to push for "population protection" that could help promote greater mobility for vaccinated people and spur business activities and economic recovery.

Citing data presented recently by the OCTA Research to local business leaders, Concepcion said that inoculating at least 40 percent of the population in the NCR Plus 8, which consists of the National Capital Region (Metro Manila), Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, Metro Cebu, Metro Davao, Batangas and Pampanga, would be enough to achieve "population protection," at which point damaging surges in cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) and resulting lockdowns could be prevented.