Government Won’t Shoulder COVID-19 Mass Testing Of Private Sector Employees – DTI
GOVERNMENT – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said the government won’t shoulder the mass testing of private-sector employees who will report back to work.
Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte extended the “enhanced community quarantine” in high-risk areas until May 15. ECQ is still imposed in CALABARZON, Central Luzon, Metro Manila, and other high-risk areas.
The chief executive implemented the ‘general community quarantine’ outside these areas. Businesses are also allowed to resume their operations.
In a previous article, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said there are more than 2 million workers who were affected by the pandemic. The poor Filipino workers said they saw depletion in their monthly income.
Starting May 1, fisheries, agriculture, logistics, media, food retail and food manufacturing in ‘general community quarantine‘ areas are allowed to resume their operations. On the other hand, repair and maintenance services, e-commerce, office services, and manufacturing electronics are allowed to operate at 50-100% capacity.
Based on a report from GMA News, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) chief Ramon Lopez said the government will not shoulder the mass testings of the employees who are reporting back to work in places under GCQ. He said it depends on their employer if they want to conduct mass testing for their employees.
“Hindi po sagot ng gobyerno subalit ‘yun na rin po ang magiging practice ng mga kumpanya na gustong magsigurado,” said Lopez.
According to the report, Lopez said they encourage private sector employers to ask their employees to fill out a health declaration while workers who had close contact with COVID-19 patients should be tested by Polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
“Option po ng mga opisina—of course ang ine-encourage po ay ‘yung PCR test pero ‘yun po ay limitado ang gamit sa ngayon. ‘Yung mga factory or ‘yung mga offices, ‘yun naman po ang magiging batayan nila…”
“‘Yung mga alanganin, may mga nakatabi na COVID positive o masama ang pakiramdam, ‘yun naman po ay pwedeng i-subject sa mga PCR test,” he added.
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