A new set of construction safety guidelines is now in effect for the implementation of public and private infrastructure projects pursuant to the latest announcement to place the Greater Metro Manila Area back to Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ).
Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark A. Villar issued the new Department Order #30 which follows recommendations from the IATF and other relevant government agencies while balancing economic growth through infrastructure development with public health and safety.
Per the latest order, all essential public and private construction projects shall be allowed at full operational capacity in areas under ECQ and Modified ECQ, subject to strict compliance with the new construction safety guidelines, with the exemption of small-scale projects.
“In ECQ and MECQ areas, we are prohibiting the operation of small-scale projects that are private and personal use, and which, because of scale, would impractically be unable to comply with our guidelines,” said Secretary Villar.
Essential public and private infrastructure projects allowed to operate during ECQ and MECQ include the construction of: health, quarantine, and isolation facilities for COVID-19 patients including dorms for healthcare workers; vaccination centers or facilities necessary for supply, distribution, and administration of vaccines; health, quarantine, and isolation facilities for COVID-19 patients including dorms for healthcare workers; vaccination centers or facilities necessary for supply, distribution, and administration of vaccines; facilities for construction personnel of doing emergency works and other disaster risk reduction and rehabilitation works; and educational facilities and other government structures/offices/buildings.
Also allowed are the construction of sewerage and water service projects, and digital works; priority public infrastructure projects such as roads, bridges, flood-control, and active transport facilities; and priority private infrastructure projects to include facilities for food production, agriculture, fisheries, energy, housing, communication, water utilities, manufacturing, and business process outsourcing (BPO).
Meanwhile, all public and private construction projects are allowed in areas under General Community Quarantine (GCQ) and Modified GCQ, subject to the latest construction safety guidelines.
Civil works contractors must ensure that workers are fit to work prior to deployment. Workers who fall under are under the most-at-risk population (MARP) such as senior citizens, pregnant women, individuals with underlying health conditions and those below 18 years of age are encouraged to observe work-from-home arrangements and shall secure and submit a Certificate of Fit to Work from Occupational Health Personnel whenever needed to physically report to work but for a limited number of hours.
Prior to deployment, employers are encouraged to collaborate with national and local government testing and ensure that employees who are at risk of contracting COVID-19 shall be tested. Should mandatory testing be implemented, it should be shouldered by the employer.
Before deployment, contractors shall likewise test all employees experiencing COVID-19 symptoms and their close contacts and shall undergo 14-day quarantine. Asymptomatic employees shall not be required to undergo RT-PCR test or antibody-based or antigen tests, but shall be screened for symptoms by a local health officer or an Occupational Safety Health (OSH) physician.
Rapid antibody-based or antigen test kits shall not be used as stand-alone tests to definitively diagnose or rule out COVID-19, as these must be used in conjunction with RT-PCR.
Concessionaires, contractors, and subcontractors shall ensure that projects are compliant to the DOLE D.O. No. 13, s. 1998 or the Guidelines Governing Occupational Safety and Health in the Construction Industry and are required to implement COVID-19 prevention and control measures including the provision of disinfection facilities at project sites, hand sanitizers, PPEs, food, transportation, and information dissemination on new construction protocols among others.
During deployment, workers shall be issued bona fide IDs as sufficient identification and pass for persons/workers/employees of permitted establishments/offices and which will exempt them from the uniform curfew hours imposed by local government units.
Workers on site are mandated to wear full-coverage face shields, face masks, and shall practice physical distancing of at least one (1) meter apart; shall be temperature-checked and required to accomplish the health declaration form before entering the construction site. The employer shall also set up hand-washing stations with soap, water, and hand sanitizers and ensure the disinfection and routine cleaning of frequently-touched surfaces/objects.
Respiratory etiquette must be practice at all times while flexible dining policy such as staggered breaks shall be adapted. Employees shall also be provided with psychosocial support, especially those presenting mental health concerns
Smoking, the use of e-cigarettes, and spitting will also be prohibited in the workplace premises.
Large and medium-sized private establishments with total assets above P15 Million are encouraged to provide shuttle services to their employees, compliant to the minimum public health standards; and designate an isolation area of one (1) room for every 200 employees. Private establishments unable to establish an isolation area may make arrangements with a temporary treatment and monitoring facility nearby or with the Barangay Local Government Unit, for immediate referral of employees who fulfill the criteria for isolation.
If one (1) confirmed case of COVID-19 is detected, any construction site shall be locked down for 24 hours for disinfection. Employers are required to report cases to the Department of Health and comply with the contact tracing protocols.
The head of the DPWH Implementing Office (IO) shall monitor the compliance of the new construction safety guidelines in DPWH-implemented projects. LGUs and other national government agencies, Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations(GOCC) shall monitor compliance of their own implemented projects.
Concessionaires, contractors, and subcontractors, suppliers, its responsible officers, directors or employees, who violate any of the provision of the new guidelines may face termination/rescission of contract without prejudice to the imposition of additional administrative sanctions as the internal rules of DPWH may provide and/or further criminal action that may be filed.