On June 19, 2020, officials and staff of the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Labor and Employment Region 8 launched the joint monitoring visit in Robinsons North on compliance made by business establishments related to health protection measures. This is specified in the DTI-DOLE Interim Guidelines on Workplace Prevention and Control of COVID-19.

Almost 90% of the establishments allowed to operate under MGCQ are open and the consumers already started to flock for their essentials and other needs. These guidelines are issued to assist private institutions that are allowed to operate during the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) and General Community Quarantine (GCQ) in developing the minimum health protocols and standards in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to DOLE 8 Regional Director Yahya Centi, “We came here as technical people to help them. Health and safety of workers should be the primordial objective of every establishment.”

The safety and health standards of every business must include ways to increase physical and mental resilience; reduction of possible transmission thru contact less transactions, implementing alternative work arrangement, constant sanitation; and record keeping of people coming in and out of the establishment.

The record of DTI reflects 2 salons and 4 dine-in restaurants were monitored on the said launching. These establishments were found to have health and safety protocols in place; however, DTI observed that profiling of customers and signages in some establishments need improvement. Although there is no sanction to this, the establishments will be checked through the succeeding monitoring activities if they acted upon the recommendations of DTI. With the opening of more businesses in Region 8, Regional Director Celerina Bato reiterated that DTI will see to it that the safety of every worker and every customer is the utmost priority of every establishment right now. ♦

Date of Release: 8 June 2020