DOLE urged to order ‘random, regular’ testing for workers in virus infected areas

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Joel Villanueva on Wednesday urged the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to issue an order mandating businesses in areas reporting a spike in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases to conduct random and regular testing on its workers.

“At this point in time, ‘yung mga nakikita natin sa workplace areas na nagkakaroon ng mga spike, na na-i-infect ng COVID-19, we are calling on DOLE to issue an order na dapat maging mandatory ang tinatawag na random and regular COVID-19 testing ng ating mga workers,” Villanueva, chairman of the Senate Committee on Labor, Employment, and Human Resource Development, said in an online press conference.

(At this point in time, we are calling on DOLE to issue an order mandating businesses to conduct random and regular COVID-19 testing in workplaces in areas recording a spike in COVID-19 cases.)

“Hindi natin sinabi na lahat dapat i-test or maya’t maya ay i-test, pero I think ang key dito is ‘yung salitang ‘regular’ and ‘random.’ Regular, meaning hindi pwedeng isang beses lang at sasabihin natin na okay na siya hindi na siya mahahawa,” he added.

(We are not saying that all should be tested and the test should be done in just after a while. I think the key here is the words ‘random’ and ‘regular’. Regular, meaning you cannot test a worker and say he will no longer be infected.)

Villanueva said a business establishment with 30 to 50 employees should arrange the rapid antibody testing for COVID-19 of from three to five workers in a week.

Villanueva added that some businesses are already using this initiative to ensure the protection of workers against the illness.

He likewise pointed out that random and regular testing will be beneficial for companies as it could prevent an outbreak in their offices which could eventually spread to the communities.

“That’s why we are also asking the local government units to look into this and the importance of not just validating who among our people would test positive, but also ensuring that we are monitoring the situation. That is the importance of epidemiological surveillance, epidemiological monitoring.” Villanueva added.

Asked if the cost of the testing be shouldered by the government or by the business establishments, Villanueva said companies “should walk the extra mile.”

“I know it’s hard but I think if they want to operate if they want to start the ball rolling, they really have to make that sacrifice,” said the lawmaker.

“It is best na ang gobyerno (It is best that the government) would step in, that the LGU would step in. That is the best scenario but we are all aware that we are not in a perfect world so the businesses must also do their part,” he also said.

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/MUF