FILE PHOTO

The Bankers Association of the Philippines (BAP) president Jose Arnulfo Veloso said on Monday it supports greater mobility for fully vaccinated individuals to stimulate economic activity.

Business groups have been pushing for a “bakuna bubble” where fully vaccinated individuals have more freedom in terms of movement to help in the recovery of pandemic-hit industries.This can now be implemented with 50 percent of the population vaccinated in Metro Manila,

“The BAP strongly supports efforts to grant greater mobility to fully vaccinated individuals,” Veloso said.

“With more than 50 percent of the population vaccinated in the metropolitan and adjacent areas where most business activities are situated, spurring economic activity can be best achieved,” he added.

Tourism, hospitality and transport sectors will benefit from the measure, he said.

Currently in Metro Manila’s Alert Level 4 quarantine classification, fully vaccinated individuals are allowed to dine-in in restaurants. However, only 10 percent of restaurant seating capacity is allowed.

Earlier, Presidential Adviser Joey Concepcion said the proposal to allow fully vaccinated to access more services in Metro Manila has been submitted to the country’s coronavirus task force and is likely to get approved.

Concepcion said the measure would also protect the unvaccinated.

  The Management Association of the Philippines earlier expressed its support for the “bakuna bubble.”

The Philippines aims to vaccinate at least 71 million before the end of the year. So far, over 20 million have been fully vaccinated as of Sept. 26.