PRESIDENTIAL spokesman Harry Roque on Thursday said employers and owners of establishments in modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) areas should comply with the transport service requirements of the government if they plan to resume operations during the weekend.
Metro Manila, Laguna, and Cebu City will transition to the MECQ category on Saturday, May 16, until May 31 as the current lockdown regulation ends Friday. The Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) has allowed some establishments and industries to partially open under the MECQ category to restart the economy as well as help displaced workers to start earning again.
Roque said employers and establishment owners who cannot provide shuttle buses or other types of transport service to their employees should consider delaying their reopening.
“So kung hindi naman po kaya talaga ng kumpanya na magbigay ng shuttle o kung walang sasakyan iyong kanilang mga empleyado, eh huwag na po munang mag-bukas dahil mas importante na ma-avoid po natin, maiwasan iyong second wave na tinatawag (So if the company cannot provide a shuttle or vehicles for their employees, do not open yet because it is more important that we avoid the second wave)” he said.
FLEXIWORK
The labor department urged private businesses anew to consider employing alternative work arrangements if they cannot resume operations yet, instead of completely closing shop.
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said he has asked businessmen to abstain from closing their companies in order to avoid more employees going jobless. “We are talking to business managers asking them not to close shop and instead adopt special work arrangements. This is so we can avoid more displacements,” said Bello.
“We will do our best to avoid displacement. Our focus now is to maintain the employment of workers,” he added, saying companies can adopt flexible working schemes among their workers, such as telecommuting, work from home, reduction of workdays or work hours, rotation of workers, and/or the implementation of forced leaves.
“The income of the workers may be less but, at least, they still maintain their employment status,” said Bello.
Based on the latest Bureau of Local Employment (BLE) data, there are already 2,498,441 formal sector workers from 93,621 establishments nationwide who have been adversely affected by the COVID-19 crisis.
Of the said establishments, 73,065 (with 1,668,082 workers) have been temporarily closed. The other 20,556 establishments (with 830,359 employees) have chosen to adopt flexible work arrangements.
OFW DEPLOYMENT
Roque said the IATF, through Resolution 36, has agreed to allow Filipino workers to leave the country and work abroad provided that
submit and sign a declaration signifying their knowledge and understanding of COVID-19 risks in their areas of destination.
Roque said the deployment excludes Filipino medical professionals and other health care workers who have been barred by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) from leaving.
The IATF has also allowed recruitment and placement agencies to operate in areas under MECQ and general community quarantine (GCQ).
He said the IATF also directed government offices and agencies involved in the processing of OFW deployment to establish “green lanes” to hasten the processing and deployment of the Filipino workers abroad.
SCHOOL OPENING FOR COLLEGES
IATF Resolution No. 36 also adopted the recommendations of the Commission on Higher Education for Higher-Learning Institutions (HEI) for the opening of classes in colleges and universities based on different education delivery modes.
Roque said HEIs has the options to (1) open their schools anytime using a “full online education system” or (2) open by August this year using a flexible learning system.
He said HEIs located in general quarantine areas may open in September using a “face-to-face/in-person” mode.
“The CHED will continue to review conditions and discussions with HEIs,” he added.
COURTS
All courts in MECQ areas will remain physically closed until May 31, the Supreme Court said, adding the courts in these areas may be reached through their hotline numbers, email addresses or Facebook pages posted on the website of the high court.
It added that all cases and transactions, including requests for documents and services shall be coursed through the said numbers. No walk-in requests shall be entertained in any offices of the courts in the said areas.
It also said that the raffles of cases in all courts under the MECQ shall proceed, either electronically or via video conferencing.
The filings of petitions, appeals, complaints, motions, pleadings and other submissions that fall up to May 31ar also “extended for 30 calendars” counted from June 1, but pleadings and other court submissions may still be filed by the parties within the reglementary period on or before May 31 through electronic means.
Civil weddings may be solemnized provided the parties, guests and witnesses shall not exceed five as provided in the Guidelines on the Phased Transition from ECQ to GCQ.
Likewise, the SC said: “The decision writing period of the Court is hereby extended until May 31, 2020. The Court may however hold special en banc session and division sessions anytime it deem fit, either in-person or through videoconferencing.” — With Gerard Naval and Ashzel Hachero
