MANILA: The Philippine’s Senate Committee on Agriculture said workers in certain sectors should be allowed to return to work to stave off hunger, social unrest and criminality.
Its chairman, Cynthia Villar, said these sectors include agriculture, manufacturing and construction.
“More realistic and sustainable measures against the Covid-19 pandemic must be put in place instead of the lockdown.
“The enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Metro Manila and other parts of the country was already taking a toll on the employment situation of the poor,” she said.
Reports in Manila Times said the lockdown was relaxed in areas that reported a decline in cases and were placed under a GCQ (general community quarantine) effective after the end of the month.
Villar said the agriculture sector employs 22 per cent of workers in the country and manufacturing and construction employ 10 per cent each.
“Construction workers numbered 3.9 million in 2018, almost the same number in manufacturing.
“Agricultural and construction workers work outdoors in open spaces and are exposed to sunlight, so the risks of them getting infected are much lower as long as the people practice personal protection measures,” she said, though health experts around the world were divided on that issue.
The senator also said the decision to impose an ECQ should not only depend on areas but also on industry types or sectors.
“We should remember that 70 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP) of the Philippines is in NCR, Calabarzon and Central Luzon,” she said.
NCR is the National Capital Region or Metro Manila, while Calabarzon refers to the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon.
“If we do not practice partial lockdown in these areas, we lose 70 per cent of our gross domestic product,” she said.
GDP, a key economic indicator, is the final cost of all goods and services produced in a period, normally a year.
She pointed out that the agriculture sector was in full swing, but some downstream industries have limited operations or have ceased operations already because of stringent quarantine.
As a result, workers in food manufacturing have been displaced and supply chains to markets have been disrupted, Villar added.
“With the extension of the ECQ for another half a month, we need to intensify food production as well as ensure the unimpeded flow of fresh produce and food products all over the country,” she said.
In construction and manufacturing, work stoppage resulting from the lockdown not only stranded workers at their workplaces but also left them without income.
She cited that people were going hungry already, and if that is not addressed soon, people might be tempted to commit crimes just to secure money to buy food.
“Many are willing to risk their lives and get infected with coronavirus, just to provide food for their family. They can be heard saying that on TV and in social media,” she said.
While there may be health risks, she suggested that workers who will be allowed to work could still follow safety protocols, such as physical distancing and wearing face masks.
Employers can also ensure that their workers comply with those precautions and could even provide shuttle services to their employees, she added.