DILG urges firms to set up isolation facilities for employees

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) appealed to companies to set up isolation facilities for its employees amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

DILG undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said this was after workers of a company in Laguna who tested positive for the virus ended up infecting their families.

Malaya said that the firms only reported to their head office, leaving LGUs in the dark.

“[A]ng naging tugon natin dito sa problema na ito ay magkakaroon na ng sariling quarantine facility ang mga kumpanya,” Malaya said in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV.

“Para hindi na nila pauwin ‘yung mga possible, kasi suspect na ‘yan eh. May close contact, so kaysa mag kagulo pa, we requested them to set up their own isolation facilities,” he added.

According to Malaya, the companies they have coordinated with have already agreed and have started setting up their own isolation facilities. These companies have also assured that they will coordinate with the provincial and local governments.

“So they have agreed during our meeting na ice-centralize sa opisina ng Provincial Health Office ‘yung datos na manggagaling sa mga kumpanya at ‘yung Provincial Healht Office ang mag ca-cascade sa iba’t ibang LGUs,” Malaya said.

“Kasi kung minsan ‘yung isang malaking kumpanya, 3,000 employees, ang daming LGU inuuwian. Hindi lamang isang munisipyo o lungsod… so kailangan probinsya. Probinsya ‘yung kailangan mag cascade,” he added. -Joahna Lei Casilao/MDM, GMA News