PCCI pushes for COVID-19 rapid testing to modify ECQ

The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), the country’s largest business group, is batting for the mass rapid testing for COVID-19 in a bid to modify the enhanced community quarantine and gradually resume business activities.

“Ang pinag-usapan to implement [mass] rapid test,” PCCI president emeritus George Barcelon said during the Laging Handa public briefing on Tuesday.

“It’s only this way na makita natin kung may cluster of infection,” Barcelon said.

The business group leader noted that results of mass rapid testing could improve data analysis and monitoring.

“‘Pag nakuha natin ang data, we can select barangays to modify enhanced community quarantine,” Barcelon said.

“Hopefully itong mga test will give us quick indicator,” he added.

The PCCI also welcomed the P51-billion wage subsidy for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME) workers.

“Malaking tulong dito sa MSMEs because medyo nahirapan sila for the close down of about month. Ang financial resources nila ay gipit na,” Barcelon said.

The P51-billion subsidy is apart from the P205-billion to be given to the informal sector or low-income families.—AOL, GMA News