70 construction sites shut down in QC over COVID-19 health protocol violations

Seventy construction sites have been shut down by the Quezon City government over violations of health and safety protocols against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

According to Saleema Refran’s report on “24 Oras” on Wednesday, QC Building Official staff conducted a surprise inspection of sites to check their compliance with protocols.

A total of 70 construction sites were given a cease and desist order by the local government. Of this number, eight were stopped due to COVID-19 infections among staff.

“‘Yung mga incidents wherein meron tayong positive cases of COVID-19, ‘yun ‘yung hindi nakapag-comply na strict na pag-house ng workers nila. ‘Yung mga workers nila, ibig sabihin, nakakalabas ng construction site,” QC Building Official officer-in-charge Dale Perral said.

The Department of Public Works and Highways requires contractors to house workers in barracks as well as provide them with basic needs, handwashing stations, and a clinic for health monitoring.

Social distancing must also be enforced in eating and resting areas at the site, while all incoming materials must be disinfected.

Workers must also test negative for COVID-19 via rapid test or complete a 14-day quarantine before deployment.

“That will ensure ‘yung safety and health ng mga tao. ‘Yung mga contractor din, kung hindi man kaya talagang umpisahan ‘yung project under these restrictions, why will you start?” Philippine Constructors Association executive director Barry Paulino said.

The QC government also said it was studying a recommendation to require a negative polymerase chain reaction test instead of a rapid test.

“Dahil ‘yung accuracy ng test mo ay hindi 100 percent, may lumusot lang diyan na isa, dalawa, tapos magkakatabi silang kumain, matulog… ‘yun ‘yung mga possible scenarios na pag-spread ng COVID,” Perral said.

The QC Business Permits Licensing Division also conducted a surprise inspection of manufacturing companies to check compliance with health protocols and actions taken on COVID-19 infections.

“Meron pong mga reports na nag-positive pero maaga naman po nilang na-extract ‘yung mga empleyado at saka ‘yung iba naman ay hindi talaga nag-re-report no’ng nag-positive, so community acquired,” officer-in-charge Margie Santos said. — Julia Mari Ornedo/BM, GMA News