Non-exporters appeal for holiday exemption

The Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry rebuffs giving support to its non-exporting members from getting the same holiday exemption during the 12th ASEAN Summit that President Arroyo has granted the exporters.

Already, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo agreed (in principle) to exempt the exporters in Cebu from the four-day holiday on December 11 to 14 to provide spontaneous business operations in the export sector.

Because of the foreseen economic loss from the four-day holiday in Metro Cebu, some sectors in business such as the non-export industries are planning to avail of the same exemption granted to the export sector.

However, MCCI president Eric Ng Mendoza said although the organization's non-export members account 70 percent of the entire organization, the chamber is going to adhere to what was already announced.

"We try not to ask too much exemption. We also have to help Cebu in projecting good image with less traffic during the ASEAN Summit," Mendoza said.

The MCCI has backed the Cebu exporters' vocal unwillingness to follow what has been announced declaring December 11 to 14 as non-working holiday in Metro Cebu.

After Arroyo announced to exempt the exporters in the four-day holiday, the Cebu Bankers Club (CBC) also sent its request to Arroyo asking for the same favor granted to the exporters.

In the CBC letter signed by its president Mel Parot, the bank appealed to be given the holiday exemption at least to operate half-day in the four-day holiday.

The bankers said that the four-day vacation could affect a lot of businesses.

The Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) on the other hand, is contemplating ways to protect the non-export sector from losing business opportunities during the declared holidays.

A series of executive meetings is being conducted by the CCCI, if the chamber is going to back up its member companies to be exempted as well.

Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña is one of the prime movers pushing Arroyo to declare the ASEAN Summit duration a holiday, primarily because of security concerns of foreign delegates and to ease traffic.

But economically, for private sector, especially the exporters, the idea may cripple huge industry businesses.

PhilExport president Alan Suarez said exporters also need the banks, it would be better if banks be included and our allied industries to make our operations smoother and with less hassles saying "its hard to do business when banks are close, or when service companies are not available, like forwarders and truckers."