In view of the availability of more public transportation, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) modified the requirement on the provision of shuttle services by large-sized private establishments with total assets above P100,000,000 located inside special economic zones and other areas under the jurisdiction of the Investment Promotion Agencies.
In their Joint Advisory No. 20-03 dated November 29, DOLE and DTI said "private establishments are enjoined to commission their own shuttle services for the benefit of their employees."
DOLE and DTI last September required big companies to provide shuttle services to their employees.
The latest Joint Advisory said that subject to the strict compliance with the minimum public health and safety standards and protocols, and other related issuances, the operational capacity of commissioned shuttle services for employees of permitted offices or establishments may also be increased.
It added that a "one-seat apart" arrangement or a full seating capacity may be adopted provided that the necessary dividers are in place.
The DOLE and the DTI also decided to limit the information to be required by companies to their clients and visitors for the companies’ contact tracing activities in adherence to the need to protect personal information as provided by the Data Privacy Act.
“Without compromising effective contact tracing, the required information shall be limited to the name and contact number of customers, clients, examinees, and visitors, as far as practicable,” said the Joint Advisory.
The DOLE and DTI also encouraged the use of digital contract tracing app.
"The use of digital contract tracing app is highly encouraged for greater efficiency of implementation and added security of the data collected," read the advisory.
"StaySafe ph is the government's official digital tracing application that is integrated with the Department of Health's COVID-19 Document Repository System (CDRS). Private establishments are highly encouraged to register in and use StaySafe.ph," it added.
The DOLE and DTI said the amendments to the advisory shall take effect on December 1, 2020 upon publication.