Shift to MGCQ? No use if transpo issues remain unsolved —ECOP

Published July 01, 2020 07:58 PM By JON VIKTOR D. CABUENAS,GMA News

Shifting to a modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) will be useless if employees still find it difficult to head to work due to transportation problems, the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) said.

ECOP president Sergio Ortiz-Luis, Jr. told GMA News Online that the group supports a shift to an MGCQ, but this should come with more transportation for workers.

"Okay lang 'yun so that theoretically, we can be faster to grow out of the GCQ. Unfortunately, unless the problem of transportation is solved, there is no point because the workers cannot go back to work anymore," he said in a phone interview.

This was in response to Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III's suggestion that Metro Manila and Calabarzon shift to an MGCQ as soon as possible to boost the country's economy.

"Unless they can really come up with a workable [solution] so that employees who are supposed to work can work, no use 'yung declaration of modified GCQ," said Ortiz-Luis.

"Ngayon lang, maraming pwedeng magtrabaho na hindi makapagtrabaho because the problem of transportation is not solved," he added.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) earlier announced a two-phased approach in the resumption of public transportation after months in lockdown, albeit on a limited capacity.

The department earlier said traditional jeepneys will be allowed under the general community quarantine

which is currently in place in Metro Manila, but guidelines for the so-called kings of the road were only released on Wednesday, July 1 after being under the GCQ for more than a month.

A general community quarantine (GCQ) was put in place in Metro Manila from June 1 to 15, and has since been extended until July 15.

According to Ortiz-Luis, 90% of the businesses in the Philippines are micro enterprises that do not have the capacity to provide shuttles for their employees.

"Walang capacity ang micro to provide services. They know that. I don't know why they say provide services. They know very well na they have no capacity to do that," he said.

"'Yun namang malalaki, they are willing except that hindi naman makadating sa dropoff points 'yung mga tao. Wala ring sasakyan 'yung mga tao papunta doon," added Ortiz-Luis.

Lockdowns on a per-company basis?

In the same interview, Ortiz-Luis also responded to Dominguez's recommendation of lockdowns on a localized or even company-to-company basis where a company would be closed down should there be a spike in COVID cases.

"I still have to understand what that means. 'Yung lockdown na company-based eh that's assuming na may capacity to house 'yung company, and I don't think there are companies that have the capacity to do that," he said.

"'Yung titira, sinong kumpanya ang merong housing facility? Kahit malalaki wala," added Ortiz-Luis. — BM, GMA News

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