Sen. Joel Villanueva said  Friday that authorities should not merely rely on lockdowns to curb the COVID-19 outbreak as he maintained the need for increased testing and monitoring efforts, particularly in workplaces.

Villanueva said the 16.5 percent contraction of the economy in the second quarter of the year "should serve as a warning for policymakers" that imposing community quarantines is not enough to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus in the country.

Economic managers said  Thursday that the Philippines has officially fallen into a recession as the second-quarter negative growth in gross domestic product marked the biggest reduction since 1981. This is the country’s first recession in three decades.

Villanueva urged anew the government to consider implementing "heightened" disease monitoring in workplaces since task force officials identified these as among the areas where COVID-19 is transmitted.

"We have always advocated for workplace disease monitoring because of the strong likelihood of transmission when there is a gathering of people at a single location," said the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Labor.

"Workplace monitoring should have been included as part of the minimum requirement in the resumption of business operations. We have to ensure that we are able to control the spread while allowing a portion of the economy to operate," he added.

"Our policymakers should not rely on implementing lockdowns alone. It disrupts the economy and it disrupts lives. Every time a worker is forced to stay home and does not have an opportunity to earn, it hinders their access to basic goods and  decent quality of life. It also affects our economy since we are largely driven by household consumption," he further stressed.

Villanueva said the Department of Labor and Employment must continue with its labor inspections to ensure that minimum health standards are strictly observed in workplaces. Employers should also be encouraged and assisted to implement regular, randomized testing among their workforce.

"If infections spread in the workplace and remain undetected, asymptomatic workers could bring the disease to their homes and communities. We will have uncontrollable spread of COVID-19 and we will be forced to do ECQs (enhanced community quarantine),” he added.

He also asked the Employees’ Compensation Commission to immediately process medical assistance claims of workers who would be placed under quarantine.