Gov’t allows construction projects

MANILA, Philippines — The government has allowed private and public construction projects to be carried out in areas under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), according to presidential spokesperson Harry Roque.

Roque said the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases had amended the ECQ guidelines on infrastructure projects.

Speaking at the televised Laging Handa briefing, Roque said “priority public infrastructure projects and priority private infrastructure projects defined as those that refer to food production, agriculture, fishery, fish port development, energy, housing, communication, water facilities, manufacturing and business process outsourcing” were now allowed.

Under the previous guidelines, construction was only allowed for facilities identified for quarantine and isolation, including facilities for the health sector, emergency works, flood control, and other disaster risk reduction and rehabilitation works.

Roque said also allowed under the revised guidelines were facilities for construction personnel, sewerage projects, water service facility projects and digital works.

This means construction workers accredited by the Department of Public Works and Highways are allowed to travel to the sites where they work, he added.