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Senator pushes for random COVID-19 testing among workers as economy gradually reopens
By DONA MAGSINO, GMA News A regular sample-based random testing for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among workers must be conducted in industries that would resume operations amid the health crisis, Senator Joel Villanueva on Friday.
"Kung hindi man kayanin 'yung buong empleyado na bumabalik o nagtatrabaho, kahit weekly magkaroon po ng random testing para lang ho masigurado natin na namomonitor natin 'yung mga manggagawa nang hindi sila nagkakasakit at hindi sila nakakahawa," he said in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV.
This move is part of his proposal in Senate Resolution No. 377 which urges the government to adopt a sectoral approach policy that would determine productive and low-risk industries which could be prioritized in slowly reopening the economy.
He also calls for the provision of shuttle services and temporary housing for the workers who would continue to render their services amid the pandemic.
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Areas outside Metro Manila, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, and other high-risk provinces have been placed under a general community quarantine starting May 1. With more relaxed quarantine protocols, some establishments in the said locations were allowed to resume partial and full operations.
Villanueva said those who belong to industries that would not be prioritized for resumption of operations shall continue to receive cash assistance from the government.
Moreover, the senator opposed the recently-approved partial business resumption of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators, pointing out that it does not provide essential services nor does it contribute significantly to the economy.—AOL, GMA News