By Jean Fernando The Parañaque City government yesterday came out with a directive for all returning employees in the city to submit within one week their respective coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) test result or face penalty. Lawyer Melanie Soriano-Malaya, chief of the Business Permit and Licensing Office (BPLO), explained that under the Executive Order 37 signed by Mayor Edwin Olivarez last week public and private employees are required to undergo mandatory testing to reduce the transmission of the virus in the city. Under the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) in Metro Manila, 50 percent of workers have returned to work as selected industries and malls were allowed to resume operations. To avoid face-to-face contact with others, Malaya urged returning employees to email the test results at [email protected] or any letter/correspondence relating to EO 37 of the city can be email at [email protected]. Malacañang is leaving it to private firms to conduct COVID-19 testing for their employees. It was learned that around 200 companies are preparing to conduct a million rapid antibody tests among their employees this month. Malaya said employers are required to screen their workers for coronavirus symptoms, travel history, and possible exposure to the virus 14 days prior to reporting for work. “Employees who fail to submit COVID test result face corresponding charges," she pointed out, explaining that the EO is in the exercise of police power of the local government unit for the general welfare of people. Malaya added that the city government acknowledged the need to restart the economy but “public health should not be compromised and the city doesn’t want a second wave of the spread of the virus in the coming days.”