COVID-19 testing of personnel isn't mandatory, DILG reminds LGUs
Published May 23, 2020 12:00 am
By Chito Chavez
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on May 23, Saturday, reminded the local government units (LGUs) that it isn’t mandatory to have personnel tested for the novel coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) before the workforce can return to their jobs.
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año
(PCOO / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO) DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año reiterated “that employees who have not undergone coronavirus testing can be permitted to go back to work as the IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force), DILG and other agencies such as the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) have not issued any order requiring LGUs to demand testing for returning employees. “A COVID-19 test is not mandatory to allow personnel to return to work,’’ Año said. Since no such order was issued, Año said “we want to restart the economy, and get employees back on their feet and provide for their families.” Expounding further, Año said companies may require their employees to undergo rapid antibody tests with the cost being shouldered by the company and not by the employee. Earlier, DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello said that employers are not obliged to have their employees tested for COVID-19, more so, shoulder the expenses of the tests. He said that “only those showing symptoms must be tested.” The DILG, meanwhile, stressed that instead of a mandatory testing for returning employees, a screening or diagnostic test must be conducted by companies and even by government agencies and LGUs. Año noted that hasty testing is not encouraged nor is it practical on the part of the employers as there are limited test kits as of the moment. He added that tests would only be necessary if an individual has a travel history to COVID-19 hit countries and has COVID-19 symptoms or has exposure to a confirmed positive case, among others. The DILG chief also encouraged the companies to ask returning employees to fill-out disclosure forms indicating their activities for the last 14 days emphasizing that a truthful response from the personnel is expected as this is the first step in stopping transmission in the workplace. Año also urged the companies, their employees and LGUs “to practice minimum health standards to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in the workplace.” “Ang panglaban naman natin diyan ay yung minimum health standards na dapat magsuot ka ng face mask, you practice physical distancing na dalawang metro at saka dapat sa mga pinagtatrabahuhan natin ay may mga engineering barriers para hindi magkakalapit yung mga manggagawa (Our response is to have minimum health standards that require wearing face masks, practice physical distancing of two meters with the worrkplaces having engineering barrier to prevent the people from converging),’’ Año concluded.
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año(PCOO / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO) DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año reiterated “that employees who have not undergone coronavirus testing can be permitted to go back to work as the IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force), DILG and other agencies such as the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) have not issued any order requiring LGUs to demand testing for returning employees. “A COVID-19 test is not mandatory to allow personnel to return to work,’’ Año said. Since no such order was issued, Año said “we want to restart the economy, and get employees back on their feet and provide for their families.” Expounding further, Año said companies may require their employees to undergo rapid antibody tests with the cost being shouldered by the company and not by the employee. Earlier, DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello said that employers are not obliged to have their employees tested for COVID-19, more so, shoulder the expenses of the tests. He said that “only those showing symptoms must be tested.” The DILG, meanwhile, stressed that instead of a mandatory testing for returning employees, a screening or diagnostic test must be conducted by companies and even by government agencies and LGUs. Año noted that hasty testing is not encouraged nor is it practical on the part of the employers as there are limited test kits as of the moment. He added that tests would only be necessary if an individual has a travel history to COVID-19 hit countries and has COVID-19 symptoms or has exposure to a confirmed positive case, among others. The DILG chief also encouraged the companies to ask returning employees to fill-out disclosure forms indicating their activities for the last 14 days emphasizing that a truthful response from the personnel is expected as this is the first step in stopping transmission in the workplace. Año also urged the companies, their employees and LGUs “to practice minimum health standards to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in the workplace.” “Ang panglaban naman natin diyan ay yung minimum health standards na dapat magsuot ka ng face mask, you practice physical distancing na dalawang metro at saka dapat sa mga pinagtatrabahuhan natin ay may mga engineering barriers para hindi magkakalapit yung mga manggagawa (Our response is to have minimum health standards that require wearing face masks, practice physical distancing of two meters with the worrkplaces having engineering barrier to prevent the people from converging),’’ Año concluded.