Government studying exemptions for community quarantine

MANILA, Philippines — The government has assured the private sector of “no work stoppage” despite the 30-day community quarantine in Metro Manila starting tomorrow, as it looks for ways to accommodate and allow thousands of workers coming from the Central Luzon and Southern Tagalog provinces to attend to their jobs in the country’s capital. 

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez and Secretary to the Cabinet Karlo Nograles said the task force is working on the exemptions that may be granted during the quarantine period.

Initially, these would include the workers and the sick who need special medical attention that is only provided in Metro Manila.

“Offices will remain open, banks will be open, offices, factories, including those involved in manufacturing, operations will continue. We are encouraging a flexible work arrangement, especially in offices. That doesn’t mean there will be no more work in your respective offices,” Lopez stressed. 

With the technology now available, there are ways to allow systems to work without requiring employees to be physically present in offices, Lopez said in reference to telecommuting, a concept that may come in handy when the “social distancing” scheme will be done to further avoid the spread of the new coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19).

“The bottom line is less movement of people. So, they won’t have to leave their homes. So that at least half or one third will be placed on rotation, they can go to work by batches. So everybody will be given a chance under this scheme. “(The same procedure can be implemented on) offices and operations. Banks will be open as well as the stock markets, all these will proceed as usual,” Lopez pointed out.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, in a radio dzMM interview, clarified that since this is not a lockdown workers and transportation, including provincial buses, will still be allowed to move during the quarantine period.

However, stringent measures, like the checking of IDs by policemen or soldiers at designated checkpoints would be put in place, he added.

Nograles vowed that clearer policies would be released to the public as soon as the inter-agency task force (IATF) is able to iron out the details.

“Concerns have been raised about workers and businessmen living outside NCR who need to travel to Metro Manila for work, and vice-versa.  To address this, we will submit this issue to IATF discussion so we can arrive at a clear policy and guidelines will be finalized later during our IATF meeting,” Nograles said.

Senators also urged the IATF to implement the measures with the least economic dislocation and confusion among the public.

Sen. Bong Revilla said President Duterte’s declaration of a community quarantine “has brought serious concern to a vast number of our kababayans who work hard day in and day out to make payments that fall due.”

“While the President’s declaration is clear that work should continue and there should be no worries about losing jobs, many should consider looking at the possibility of following the example of Italy where mortgage payments and certain financial obligations are suspended,” he added.

Revilla urged economic managers to study and look into this course of action so that, if conditions worsen and the need arises, “we could implement an emergency mechanism that would ease the burden of our kababayans with the least adverse impact on our finances, economy, and institutions.” – With Romina Cabrera, Sheila Crisostomo, Paolo Romero