MANILA – Filipino-Chinese businessmen are seeking clarity on quarantine rules imposed on those coming from China including cargo vessels, Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. president Henry Lim Bong Liong said.
A 14-day quarantine on vessels containing goods could result in losses especially for those who import perishable items, Lim stated.
Travelers from China are required to undergo a 14-day quarantine period or enough time for the new coronavirus symptoms to appear on exposed individuals.
“‘Yung mga Chinese vessel hindi pa namin alam kung ano ang protocol d’yan. ‘Yung mga tao supposedly sa port lang ‘yung kargamento, pwede ba ibaba?” he said.
“That is also one thing we want to clarify with our port authority kung ano ba talaga mangyayari. Halos lahat ng gamit natin made in China na ngayon,” he added.
Filipino-Chinese businessmen “have faith in the vast potential and resilience of the Philippine economy and we shall continue to invest and reinvest due to the country’s good long-term potentials, regardless of this hopefully short-term coronavirus problem,” Lim further stated.
Deaths due to the new coronavirus strain from Wuhan have topped 500, mostly in China.
As of writing, Philippines has three confirmed cases, one of whom died, all confirmed cases were Chinese.
With flights and cruises canceled, and a decline in Chinese arrivals, the tourism industry could be losing as much as $1 billion due to the outbreak, Lim said citing estimates. But if restrictions due to the virus drag for four to five months, the group will have to reevaluate their calculations. (ABS-CBN News)
