Returning jobs, need to test- Senators

Two senators insist that job seekers need to be tested now that restrictions have been lifted in some areas of the country as their safety is at risk due to lack of protection against COVID-19.

Senator Joel Villanueva, chair of the Senate labor committee, said the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) needs to consider their decision not to require workers to undergo testing.

Villanueva added that while not all employees should be subjected to regular testing, his suggestion is regular or weekly testing by a representative sample of workers to ensure that no virus is spread in their workplace.

Senator Risa Hontiveros warned that the Philippines cannot cope with the second wave of COVID-19 infections that could happen if workers were allowed to return to work without being tested.

Hontiveros said the government has required that Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) undergo COVID-19 testing before being allowed to work again but why Filipinos cannot be tested for the virus.