The House of Representatives on Monday endorsed for Senate approval the proposed “Better Normal for the Workplace, Communities and Public Spaces Act of 2020.”
This, after 242 lawmakers voted for the passage of the House Bill 6864. No lawmakers voted against the bill.
Deputy Speaker Luis Raymund Villafuerte, one of the principal authors of the bill, said the measure would let Filipinos best adapt to the “better normal” way of life during an epidemic or pandemic, and until such time that the same and its immediate impacts are declared eradicated by the authorized national government agency or agencies of the government.
He said the HB 6864 provides a “whole-of-society” approach to strict mandatory safety and physical distancing protocols.
Aside from prescribing the obligatory health and safety protocols like social distancing, frequent hand-washing and use of facial masks in public to avoid Covid-19 infection, Villafuerte said that HB 6864 will clear the way to the speedy migration of the economy to digitalization, which has become indispensable in the face of the unprecedented global health crisis.
The bill adopts an integrated and comprehensive approach to public health and environmental policies and regulations during a pandemic, thus, ensuring the overall well-being of individuals, communities, industrial and natural ecosystems. Consideration shall be paid to valuing the services provided by ecosystems and biodiversity in generating the direction and prescriptions for a better normal and in assessing their success.
It also institutes appropriate public health, safety, and security measures to stem the transmission of the corona virus disease-19 (COVID-19) or similar diseases that may result in any kind of pandemic.
The bill regulates, institutes, and establishes standards and protocols that would simultaneously protect the vulnerable from COVID-19 and prevent its transmission.
It also provides the restoration of livelihood opportunities and sources of income for all, especially the poor, in the event of widespread disease outbreak and the resulting slowdown of economic activity, and building adaptive capacity and resilience for future shocks.
The measure also provides the universal broadband access for all to ensure a better normal in recognition of the crucial role of a strong information and communications technology (ICT) system to close the digital divide and that the need for modern and innovative ICT cuts across all sectors of society.
The bill mandates the universal and mandatory health and safety measures by assuring that the basic personal hygiene, wearing facemask shall be strictly observed by the general public.
It also said public gatherings are prohibited subject to the exceptions as may be provided under the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of this proposal.
The measure said appropriate government agencies shall monitor the implementation of the Universal and Mandatory Safety Measures in the management of public transportation terminals and facilities, including queuing or ticketing lines, ticketing offices, as well as the interiors of public utility vehicles, mass transportations, and private vehicles covered by application-based transportation network services, and by their respective drivers, conductors and passengers.
To give priority to the health, well-being and safety of the education sector, the bill said the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) are authorized to determine the start of the academic year 2020 to 2021 for all public and private schools, state universities and colleges (SUCs), local universities and colleges (LUCs), private colleges and universities, and other learning institutions.
The measure said the national government, in coordination with the LGUs, and in partnership with accredited or duly-recognized organizations that pertain to each sector, shall maintain databases on all private commercial, industrial, and other businesses operating in their areas of jurisdiction. The database shall include information such as the number of employees, working hours, workspace conditions, office floor areas, and other information necessary to ensure compliance with physical distancing and other protocols prescribed by this proposal to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 virus.
With this, the bill said private commercial and industrial businesses are hereby mandated to adopt a flexible working schedule in keeping with the policy of maintaining a minimum of eight hour work per day, or forty-eight hour work per week, which shall be incorporated in their management plans.
The measure also provides penalties to any person who violates the proposed act from the mandatory rendition of community service to P100,000 fine with imprisonment for repeated violations.
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