DILG says employers who require virus test should shoulder cost

who require their returning employees to under a diagnostic test for the novel coronavirus should shoulder the cost, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año said on Saturday, May 23.

He said the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) have already made it clear that no such requirement has been imposed on returning employees.

Besides, he said it is impractical to conduct diagnostic tests on all returning employees given the limited test kits.

“A Covid-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) test is not mandatory to allow personnel to return to work. Wala pong ganyang kautusan na nanggaling sa pamahalaan at maging sa DILG, DOLE at DTI. We want to restart the economy, and get employees back on their feet and provide for their families,” said Año.

“Wala po tayong ipinaguutos na ganyan, nilinaw na ‘yan DOLE at DTI. Kaya sa mga LGU na nag-iissue ng executive order na nire-require ang mga kompanya, opisina na dapat ay itest, hindi dapat ganoon, wala tayong ganoon ipinag-uutos,” he added.

The DILG said instead of Covid testing, a screening or diagnostic test must be conducted by companies and even by government agencies and LGUs.

Año said that tests would only be necessary if an individual has a travel history to coronavirus-affected country, has COVID symptoms, or has exposure to a confirmed positive case, among others.

He encourages companies to ask returning employees to fillout disclosure forms indicating their activities for the last 14 days emphasizing that a truthful response from the personnel is expected as this is the first step in stopping transmission in the workplace.

“Yung mga bumabalik na empleyado ay kailangang magfill-out ng disclosure form for the last 14 days, kung saan sila nanggaling, mayroon ba silang nakausap na kamag-anak na nagpositive, gaano sila kalapit sa isang kapitbahay na nag-positive para mailagay sila sa PUMs,”he said.

The secretary also reminded companies allowed to resume operations to strictly observe minimum health standards prescribed by the Department of Health to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in the workplace.

Meanwhile, DILG spokesperson and Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said there is no need for returning employees to seek travel authority from their barangays as their companies are enough in order for them to get pas at quarantine checkpoints if necessar y.

"Lilinawin ko lang po na para po sa mga nagtatrabaho sa mga industriyang pinapagayan ng ating batas o pinapayagan ng IATF (InterAgency Task Force), ang kailangan niyo lang pong ipakita ay inyong company ID or certificate of employment. 'Yun lang po, hindi po kayo kailangang humingi ng travel authority," he said.

"Ang travel authority ay para po 'yan sa mga stranded individuals. Kung kayo po ay nagtatrabaho sa isang est abl i syi m ent o na pinapayagan ng IATF na magoperate, ang kailangan niyo lang po ay inyong company ID," Malaya added.

---(SunStar Philippines)

Outdoor, non-contact sports

Under GCQ and MGCQ, the following outdoor and noncontact sports and other forms exercise are allowed, provided that the minimum public health standards such as the wearing of masks and the maintenance of social distancing protocol and no sharing of equipment where applicable are observed. These are walking, jogging, running, biking, golf, swimming, tennis, badminton, equestrian and skate boarding.

Barbershops, salons and other personal care service establishments will be allowed to operate under MGCQ at a maximum of 50 percent of venue capacity.

Dine-in services in food retail establishments such as supermarkets, grocery stores and food preparation establishments are allowed at a maximum of 50 percent of its seating capacity.

Face-to-face or in-person classes at all levels are suspended in areas under ECQ, MECQ and GCQ.

The opening of classes for basic education will be on Aug. 24, 2020 and it will end on April 30, 2021.

Opening of private schools will be allowed within the period provided by law. Provided that school learning continuity plan will be submitted.

Face-to-face classes will not be allowed earlier than Aug. 24. Conduct of curricular and co-curricular activities involving gatherings such as science fairs, showcase of portfolios, trade fairs, school sports, campus journalism, festival of talents, job fairs and other similar activities is cancelled except those conducted online.

Moreover, higher educatiotn institution (HEI) using full online education can open anytime, while HEIs using flexible learning can open anytime in August 2020.

HEIs using significant face-to-face or in-person mode can open not earlier than Sept. 1, 2020. No face-to-face or in-person classes will be conducted in tertiary level until Aug. 31.

Workplace situation

The movement of the following persons across areas placed under any form of community quarantine shall be permitted: health and emergency frontline personnel; government officials and government frontline personnel; duly authorized humanitarian assistance actors; persons traveling for medical or humanitarian reasons; persons going to the airport for travel abroad; returning or repatriated overseas Filipino workers; other persons transported through the efforts of the national government upon the observance of necessary quarantine protocols and with the concurrence of the receiving local government units; and

anyone crossing zones for work permitted in the zone of destination and going back home.

With the government easing some restrictions, business leaders in Cebu reiterated the call for businesses to adopt health and safety guidelines for the unhampered flow of goods and services.

That would mean strict compliance of health protocol in the workplace, said Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Felix Taguiam.

"There is a gradual opening (of businesses) as stated at 50 percent and then ramping up as time goes by. This is for all of us to adapt to the new norm protocol," he said.

Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Steven Yu said everyone still has to practice high caution when in public as the virus is highly contagious and the strain may become stronger or mutate anytime.

"While selective gatherings of people are allowed, the minimum public health standards still apply. And the types of gathering are qualified to allow only those who are critical to the delivery of essential private and public services including emergency and non-emergency health care services," Yu said.

Until a vaccine is found and administered to a large number of the population, extreme caution is to be exercised and the community quarantine should still be imposed across all areas, he said. ---(WBS, JOB)

EMPLOYERS