Palace: Public, private construction projects now allowed under ECQ
By Catherine S. Valente
CONSTRUCTION work in facilities for the health sector, water service, emergency repairs, flood control and other disaster risk reduction and rehabilitation programs are now allowed in areas under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), Malacañang announced on Saturday.
In a virtual press briefing aired over state-run PTV4, Roque said The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Emerging Infectious Diseases amended omnibus guidelines in the implementation of the community quarantine in the Philippines to allow such infrastructure projects to push through amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.
“Pupwede na po ang mga private at public construction projects, infrastructure projects sa mga nasa ECQ (Private, public construction projects, infrastructure projects are now allowed under ECQ),” Roque said.
He said the allowed construction projects were deemed “priority,” hence they have been given the green light even under ECQ.
Construction projects for quarantine and isolation facilities for persons under monitoring, suspect and confirmed Covid-19 patients, facilities for construction personnel who perform emergency work, flood control and other disaster risk reduction and rehabilitation programs, sewerage projects, water service facility projects, digital works are among those allowed under ECQ, he added.
The government will also allow “priority” public and private infrastructure projects related to manufacturing such as food, agriculture, and business process outsourcing, according to Roque.
He also said that construction workers accredited by the Department of Public Works and Highways were now allowed to return to their respective jobs in areas under ECQ.
“Pinayagan din po ang ilang construction projects sa general community quarantine. Ang general rule po, lahat po ng public and private construction projects ay pupwede na sa mga lugar na GCQ pero kinakailangan po kumo-comply dun sa mga construction safety guidelines para sa implementation ng infrastructure projects during the Covid-19 pandemic (Construction projects are now also allowed to continue in areas under general community quarantine. The general rule is that all public and private construction projects are now allowed in areas under the GCQ, but they need to comply with construction safety guidelines on the implementation of infrastructure projects during the Covid-19 pandemic),” he said.
Metro Manila and other areas at high risk for Covid-19 spread remain under lockdown until at least May 15.
The IATF will again meet on Monday, May 11, before submitting its recommendation to President Rodrigo Duterte on quarantine measures to be enforced after May 15.
Source: The Manila Times