THE construction sector has been given a go to operate provided health protocols will be followed.
Benguet Governor Melchor Diclas said construction work in the highlands will be operational with the condition they abide by guidelines issued by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) stressing Construction Safety Guidelines for all projects during the global public health crisis.
Diclas stressed social distancing and wearing of masks as a precautionary measure against the Covid-19 threat is mandatory.
The governor noted close to 50 percent of the construction work in Benguet province comprise of projects related to disasters.
Construction projects under General Community Quarantine (GCQ) areas allows public and private construction projects including sewerage, water services facilities, digital works, health facilities, priority and other similar construction related to basic human needs like food production, agriculture and shelter necessary to address housing backlog, energy and communication.
According to the official log of infrastructure projects in the province majority is composed of flood control, retaining wall and disaster related infrastructure to be immediately implemented in preparation for the rainy season.
Under the issued DPWH guidelines, only workers 21 to 59 years old without pre-existing conditions, such as but not limited to immunodeficiency, comorbidities and other health risks, including any person who resides with the aforementioned and who did not come into close contact with Covid-19 patient are allowed to work.
While employees or consultants aged 60 years old and above may be part of the workforce and allowed under ECQ and GCQ guidelines stated in the “Omnibus Guidelines on the Implementation of Community Quarantine in the Philippines dated April 29.
One of the requirements set include construction personnel required to undergo any available Covid-19 test as may be prescribed by the health department.
Contractors must also ensure to provide workers continuous supply of vitamins, disinfection facilities in their respective project sites in compliance with the health department and Inter Agency Task Force Guidelines.
The DPWH Guidelines state employees must be housed in their respective quarters for the entire duration of the project covered by ECQ and GCQ.
Government construction projects, personal records of all personnel necessary for contact tracing must be submitted by the concessionaries, contractors, subcontractors and suppliers to the DPWH and must be updated monthly.
Errands outside the construction site are asked to be kept to a minimum while personnel with symptoms relative to the virus must be immediately isolated and quarantined for 14 days and brought to the nearest DOH-Covid 19 treatment facility.
The Governor added the Trade and Industry Department whose work covers price of goods and ensure only standard-compliant products available in the market, continuous monitoring of hardware stores, cement and steel shops as the infra projects resume.
He also reiterated his appeal to the people of Benguet to maintain social distancing to prevent contact with the virus.
“Social distancing is indispensable. To the people of Benguet, we must maintain the wearing of face mask, cleanliness, washing of hands and practicing proper hygiene. Let us be one in preventing the virus,” he added.