DTI chief to employers: Provide workers accommodation, transport

Owners of business establishments allowed to be partially or fully operational amid quarantine measures being implemented against COVID-19 spread are advised to provide accommodation as well as shuttle services for their workers, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said Saturday.

"Tuloy ang pag-encourage sa business owners na una kung maaari, magkaroon ng temporary accomodation sa workers nila... ito po sana ay within site and near site kung saan ‘yung pinagtatrabahuan," Lopez said during the Laging Handa public briefing.

This after the government allowed several businesses to operate at either 50% or full operational capacity during the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ).

Public transportation, however, is still not allowed in areas under MECQ.

On May 16, Metro Manila, Laguna, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, and Zambales were placed under a more relaxed MECQ.

"Dahil walang public transpo ay magbigay ng shuttle services... kailangan i-provide ng kompanya," Lopez said.

The following are industries, establishments allowed to operate at full capacity:

• Media establishments
• Establishments involved in the production of cement and steel
• BPOs and export-oriented establishments without need to set up onsite or near-site accommodation arrangements
• Mining and quarrying
• E-commerce companies
• Postal, courier and delivery services
• Rental and leasing, other than real estate, such as vehicles and equipment for permitted sectors
• Employment activities that involve the recruitment and placement for permitted sectors
• Repair of computers, personal and household goods
• Housing services activities

Meanwhile, the following are allowed to operate at 50 percent operational capacity:

• Other manufacturing industries classified as beverages, including alcoholic drinks, electrical machinery, wood products, and furniture, non-metallic products, textiles, and clothing/wearing apparels, tobacco products, paper and paper products, rubber and plastic products, coke and refined petroleum products, other non-metallic mineral products, computers, electronics, and optical products, electrical equipment, machinery and equipment, motor vehicles, trailers, and semi-trailers, other transport equipment, and others
• Real estate and leasing activities
• Administrative and office support such as, but not limited to, providing photocopying and billing services
• Other financial services such as, but not limited to, money-exchange, insurance, micro-finance and credit cooperatives, reinsurance and non-compulsory pension funding
• Legal and accounting services
• Management consultancy services or activities
• Recruitment and placement agencies for overseas employment
• Architectural and engineering activities which include technical testing and analysis
• Science and technology, research and development
• Advertising and market research
• Computer programming and information management services
• Publishing and printing services
• Film, music, and television production
• Photography, fashion, and industrial, graphic and interior design
• Wholesale and retail trade of vehicles and their parts and components, whether such vehicles be fuel, electric, or human-powered
• Repair and maintenance of vehicles as defined in the immediately preceding provision as well as its parts or components
• Malls and commercial centers, subject to guidelines issued by the DTI
• Dining and restaurants, but for delivery and take-out only
• Hardware stores
• Clothing and accessories
• Bookstore and school and office supplies
• Baby or infant care supplies
• Pet food and pet care supplies
• Information technology, communication, and electronic equipment
• Flower, jewelry, novelty, antique, and perfume shops
• Toy stores, provided that playground and amusement areas, if any, shall remain closed
• Firearms and ammunition trading establishments subject to strict regulation of the firearms and explosives office

—Ted Cordero/LBG, GMA News