Jaime Augusto Zobel urges ‍private sector to help gov’t fight COVID-19

MANILA, Philippines — Ayala chairman and CEO Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala urged the private sector to again become “a force for growth and a force for good” and continue to help the government in its fight against the new coronavirus.

“If we will act in unison, work together, join forces and focus on some key areas where we can all make a difference, there’s absolutely no doubt in my mind that the private sector can be a massive generator of goodwill in our country and a solution to many of our problems,” Ayala said.

“And if we continue to put our collective resources and determination, the task will be able to force multiply the growth and the good that we can do in nation-building,” said the 62-year-old Zobel, scion of the family that owns the Ayala conglomerate.

Repeated appeals

Zobel, who made the remarks at an online forum of Stratbase Albert del Rosario Institute last week, had repeatedly made similar appeals since the pandemic emerged in the country in March last year.

In December 2019, even after President Duterte verbally abused the Zobel family, as well as Manuel Pangilinan, Zobel embarked on a special program to persuade businessmen to help the government and communities in their own ways.

The President later apologized to the Zobels and Pangilinan for his “hurtful words.”

Last month, Zobel again said at Ateneo School of Government that the private sector must help the government because its funds were “not quite geared for long periods of welfare support.”

“In the absence of a massive stimulus initiative, perhaps we can explore alternative avenues that may lead not only to accelerated recovery, but also a solid platform for growth and resilience,” Zobel said.

Be better prepared

Benedicto Yujuico, president of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, agreed.

“I think it is time for us to work with the government to assess where we are because, in the future, we need to be better prepared … and not to depend on other countries for our health and welfare” Yujuico said at the forum.

Former Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario also underscored the need for the government to work more closely with the private sector in jumpstarting the economy.

“There is [an] undeniable public consensus that the government should engage more actively with the private sector to fast-track economic recovery,” Del Rosario said.

He also said the importance of harnessing available information technology systems to develop “secure business-to-government and citizen-to-government platforms” in doing away with [in-person] interactions, including the payment of taxes and other business fees.

“Public and private institutions can no longer cling to their old ways and must now step up their digital transformation to deliver their services and products efficiently and extensively,” he said.