ECQ rules tweaked to allow road works and construction

MANILA: Important construction works that have been halted since the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) will now be able to resume after the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) amended the guidelines last Friday.

“Ano po ang ibig sabihin nito? Pwede na po ang mga private at public construction projects, infrastructure projects sa mga ECQ (What does this mean? Construction and infrastructure projects of private and public sectors are now allowed in areas under ECQ),” said Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque.

Prior to tweaking the guidelines, the IATF-EID prohibited reopening of infrastructure projects during the ECQ and especially in parts of the National Capital Region considered to be COVID-19 high-risk areas.

Aside from construction of quarantine and isolation facilities, “Build, Build, Build” projects, emergency works, disaster risk reduction, and rehabilitation works, sewerage projects, water service facility projects can also restart, along with priority public and private infrastructure projects for food production, agriculture, fishery, fish port development, energy, housing, communication, water facilities, manufacturing, and business process outsourcing.

Prior to resumption of work, each of these project must abide by the following health and safety protocols set by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH):

• Only persons from 21 to 59 years of age, without pre-existing health conditions, such as, but not limited to, immunodeficiency, comorbidities, or other health risks shall be allowed to be included in the workforce.
• Prior to deployment, construction personnel shall be required to undergo Covid-19 test, as may be prescribed by DOH, and retested as the need arises.
• The head of the concerned Implementing Office (IO) shall issue construction quarantine pass (QP) to the individual qualified personnel of the concessionaires, contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers, clearly stating the identification, designation, nature of work, validity and destination.
• Concessionaires, contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers shall provide for their personnel the necessary welfare facilities and amenities, such as employees’ quarters for board and lodging, ensuring compliance to social distancing, proper hygiene.
• Employees shall be housed in their respective quarters for the entire duration of the project covered by the ECQ and GCQ. Otherwise, “Prior to Deployment” procedures shall be conducted at every instance of re-entry.
• Errands to be conducted outside the construction site premises shall be kept to a minimum. Number of personnel running errands shall be limited and shall be properly disinfected and closely monitored for symptoms within 14 days upon reentry.
• Work activities shall be under daily strict monitoring by the Safety Officer at site to ensure compliance to safety standards and quarantine protocols.
• Daily monitoring of the pre and post work health conditions of workers shall be mandatory. Personnel with manifestations or symptoms relative to Covid-19 shall be immediately isolated and quarantined for 14 days and if necessary, brought to the nearest DOH covid-19 treatment facility under strict confidentiality and privacy.
• For government construction projects, personal records of all personnel necessary for contact tracing shall be submitted by the concessionaires, contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers to the DPWH IO and shall be resubmitted and updated monthly, or as the need arises.

“Dahil allowed na itong mga private at public infrastructure projects ng mga ECQ na ito, ‘yung mga construction worker po na accredited ng DPWH ay pupwede na ring pumunta doon sa kanilang mga lugar na pinagta-trabahuhan (Because private and public infrastructure projects are now allowed in areas under ECQ, construction workers accredited by DPWH can now go to the place where they work),” added Roque.

Photos from the Department of Public Works and Highways

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