Employers not mandated, but urged to provide transpo for ECQ – affected workers 

 (INQUIRER PHOTO / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE)

MANILA, Philippines — Employers are not mandated, but encouraged to provide shuttle services for their employees since the operation of public transportation is allowed under the one-week enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Metro Manila and four nearby provinces, Trade and Industry Undersecretary Ireneo Vizmontesaid Monday.

“Nung pong dating tayo ay may ECQ, ‘yan po ay ginagawa ng ating mga establishments po natin, yung malalaking retail store, yung mga nasa ecozone,” Vizmonte said during the Laging Handa press briefing on Monday.

(During the previous ECQ, establishments, the big retail stores, companies within the ecozones would provide a shuttle services for its employees.)

“Pero ngayon po, hindi na po siya mandatory dahil pinayagan na po natin ang public transport. Kung maaalala po natin nung po tayo’y mag-ECQ dati, ang public transport po ay napaka-limited lang. So ngayon po ay allowed po ang public transport,” he added.

(But now, it’s no longer mandatory since public transportation is allowed. To recall, when we had an ECQ before, public transport was very limited. So now, we allowed public transport.)

Nevertheless, Vizmonte said firms are still encouraged to provide transportation for employees.

“Ine-encourage pa rin po natin ang mga kumpanya para hindi naman po mahirapan ang ating mga empleyado na magkaroon ng service para maghatid ng kanilang mga empleyado mula sa bahay hanggang sa kanilang negosyo at pabalik,” he said.

(We are encouraging companies to provide shuttle services for employees so that it would not be too hard for them to report for work).

Malacañang on Saturday announced that Metro Manila, Rizal, Bulacan, Cavite and Laguna will be placed under a ECQ, the strictest quarantine status, from March 29 to April 4 due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases.

 gsg