DTI chief wants businesses to prepare health protocols

MANILA, Philippines — Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said best hygiene and health measures practiced among leading export companies should be the new protocol in business operations as the country prepares for the post-enhanced community quarantine scenario.

“Minimum health standards such as strict social distancing, wearing of face masks, presence of sanitation stations, taking of body temperature and provision of vitamins must always be observed in work and public places,” Lopez said.

“Likewise, the conduct of COVID-19 tests, provision of nearby accommodations and shuttle services, allowing more work-from-home arrangements, and healthcare preparedness and insurance from enterprises, should be the new normal as we ease into the new way of doing business,” he added.

The trade chief explained that these measures must be exercised in order to minimize the health risk among workers as essential enterprises conduct their operations.

He emphasized that these should be strictly required once other sectors are allowed to resume business operations.

“We need to have a new way of doing business to ensure that our significant gains during the ECQ and the collective efforts in flattening the curve will not be put to waste once ECQ is fully lifted,” he added.

“It is accepted that health takes primacy over the economy, but there is no dichotomy between the two if we take precautionary health measures when we do business and work with other people to minimize any health risk in a post-ECQ environment,” Lopez said.

Several sectors have been recognized by Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) for their interventions in protecting the safety and well-being of their employees, as well as in providing them with extensive health benefits.

Among these include leading export-oriented manufacturing industries, which provided additional health benefits such as near-site accommodation and shuttle services, hiring from local communities, provision of vitamins and medicines and regular check-ups and healthcare in the workplace. These companies also distributed face masks and digital thermometers to employees at no cost, and set up ambulances, isolation tents, and clinics in their facilities.

DTI is working with the Department of Health and Department of Labor and Employment to issue the new set of guidelines on the minimum health protocols in all business operations.

The trade chief acknowledged the importance of continuing work-from-home arrangements where possible to help mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. He added that the rise of the e-commerce industry and delivery models should be further enhanced even after the ECQ.

“As we continue to collaborate with different industries, we call on the cooperation of all our partners in the private sector to maintain best practices through observing health protocols and sustaining measures for employees’ welfare. Only then can we heal as one and move forward as one,” Lopez said.