DAVAO CITY, Aug. 14 (PIA) – Trade and Industry secretary Ramon Lopez announced in the Regional Task Force XI Special Meeting with the secretaries of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) held in Davao City, Tuesday, that the IATF is set to issue tighter protocols to be followed in the workplace.
“We are balancing health and economy. While Davao Region has good statistics on your COVID 19 cases, we should learn to dance with the virus. We can close and open buildings, barangays without having to close the entire economy,” Lopez said.
The discipline of the people, according to the official, remains crucial in this fight against the COVID 19 pandemic.
Lopez said that an issuance will come out in the coming days that would set in place tighter protocols in the workplace.
One important addition in the guidelines is the mandatory wearing of mask while on board the company’s shuttle service and the banning of smoking areas in establishments.
Transmission of the virus was observed to be high risk in areas such as smoking place and inside the shuttle when workers tend to forget the proper wearing of face mask in this areas.
Lopez said additional protocols are expected to come out after the meeting of the IATF.
Meanwhile, Department of Labor and Employment XI regional director Ofelia Domingo announced in the One Davao Virtual Presser this morning that DOLE X Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III confirmed the mandatory wearing of face mask and face shield while at the workplace.
“Secretary Bello, in a text message, said that this guidelines is yet to come out but it will take effect tomorrow August 15,” Domingo said.
The issuance would contain the mechanics as to how this will be implemented at the workplace.
“The DTI, in case that an establishment failed to comply this policy, said office may call for the closure of operation of the said establishment.
Domingo believed that the employer should shoulder the cost of the face mask and face shield instead of the employer. (PIA XI/Frances Mae Macapagat)
Source: Philippines Information Agency (pia.gov.ph)
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