With the dry season approaching, the government should allow companies to exercise “common sense” in implementing their health and safety policies, according to Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) President Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr.

In a recent interview, Ortiz-Luis said employers should always comply with advisories from the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to prevent heat stress in the workplace.

He added that this is particularly relevant for small companies that have no air-conditioning systems or those that have workers that do fieldwork.

However, the ECOP chief argued that these advisories should be “sensible” and not imposed with blanket coverage.

“Napakadaling mag-suggest ng ganyang ‘fit all’… [pero] kailangan lang mag-ingat, tuluy-tuloy ang advisory…huwag mag-overreact,” said Ortiz-Luis.

(It’s easy to make suggestions that fit all, but everyone just needs to take care and heed continued advisories and not overreact.)

In particular, he noted that imposing temporary company closures due to summer heat would only lead to lost opportunities for companies to earn.

Ortiz-Luis, also president of the Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. (Philexport), said the government should instead issue “simple advisories” and let companies implement their own safety measures.

He asserted that companies “know better” how to handle these situations, noting that this is what is “best for them.”

“Meron ba namang mga kumpanya na gusto nilang may madisgrasya sa kanila dahil sa heat? Kanya-kanyang ingat at tuluy-tuloy lang advisory… hindi ‘yung gagawa ka ng regulasyon na [fit all]… Iba-iba ang sitwasyon,” he explained.

(No company wants health problems due to the heat. Advisories should be issued continuously but they should not be on a fit-all basis because situations are different.)

Ortiz-Luis said that among the measures companies should take are ensuring proper ventilation and making drinking water readily available to employees for sufficient hydration.

According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the dry and warm season will be felt around the end of March to April.

Under DOLE’s Labor Advisory No. 08, the government recommends that companies implement measures to prevent heat stress, including reducing exposure to extreme heat through adequate ventilation and heat insulation, as well as providing free and adequate drinking water.

For workers who perform fieldwork, employers are mandated to provide temperature-appropriate uniforms and personal protective equipment.

Employers may also adjust rest breaks to allow workers to recover from the blistering heat.