The Pasay city government will launch the “Sulong Pasay” initiative on Friday in another bid to revive the local economy amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

Sulong Pasay seeks to work with the city government as well as with businessmen, workers, the youth, women, academe, church, and other sectors to come up with solutions that would stir economic growth with health protocols in mind.

“The initiative will boost public-private partnership to revive Pasay’s economy hit hard by the pandemic,” Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano said in a statement on Thursday.

Among Sulong Pasay’s members who are expected to grace the 10 a.m. launch are Serge Luis Ortiz Jr., president of the Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc.; former ambassador Benedicto Yujuico, president of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry; and Philippine Stock Exchange chair Jose Pardo.

Among the major partnerships that Pasay struck with the private sector was the Mall of Asia Arena mega vaccination hub which was launched on May 7, 2021.

The hub can accommodate as many as 2,000 daily in line with the city’s goal to vaccinate at least 14,000 weekly.

Downward trend

Meanwhile, Pasay’s active cases are down to 59, or 0.42 percent out of the 14,318 confirmed cases as of Thursday.

The City Health Office said 13,875 have recovered but 384 died.

Rubiano lauded the dedication of the entire local government and reminded anew the residents to avoid being complacent.

“Ngayon po na nakamit na natin ang pinakamababang bilang ng kaso sa Metro Manila, nakiki-usap po ako na sana ay pag-ibayuhin pa lalo nating lahat ang pagsugpo sa perwisyong virus na ito (As we have reached the lowest active cases logged within Metro Manila cities, I am appealing to you to continue cooperating with us to eliminate the impact of the virus),” Rubiano said.

Pasay is third among Metro Manila cities in terms of utilization of the Covid-19 vaccines, behind Manila and Mandaluyong. (PNA)