The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Friday suggested that employers consider adopting alternative work setups, such as working from home, as many workers will be affected by the rehabilitation of EDSA next month.
According to Joseph Morong’s report in “24 Oras” on Friday, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority said EDSA is home to many business establishments, with nearly 50 malls on the stretch.
“Mutually beneficial po. Hindi po makakapinsila sa pagpapatuloy ng negosyo, pero matiyak din po na hindi rin mapipinsila ang ating mga mangagawa,” said DOLE Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma during an inter-agency meeting.
(This will be mutually beneficial. It will not affect the businesses and at the same time we can make sure that workers will not be inconvenienced.)
The Pasay and Guadalupe portions will be the first to be affected by the first wave of the rebuilding program that will begin on June 13.
For its part, the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) said that alternative work arrangements may not be effective for some.
“Sana pabayaan yung mga kumpanya at yung mga tao nila na mag-usap, diskartehan nila, kanya-kanya,” said ECOP president Sergio Ortiz.
(Let’s leave it to the companies and their employees to decide on that.)
ECOP also sought incentives for business establishments that would implement alternative work setups.
The government earlier said that the rehabilitation on the major thoroughfare will go on full blast by July or August.
Department of Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon said that the DOTr will check if the odd-even coding scheme to be implemented during the rehabilitation period would be effective. The said vehicular scheme will have a dry run on June 16.
On the other hand, transport groups said that the No Contact Apprehension Policy (NCAP) should have been implemented after the rehabilitation.
Motorcycle taxi riders are complaining that the NCAP implementation has made their daily rides difficult.
“Mayroong reklamo sa akin na ‘Sir, baka wedeng pakibilisan?’ Sabi ko, ‘Hindi tayo pwedeng dumaan diyan sa bike lane kasi bawal,’” said motorcycle taxi operator Paul Rosales.
(Someone complained to me if I can go faster. I told him that we cannot use the bike lane.)
“Maganda ang layunin ng motorcycle lane, ang problema yung kalsada doon baku-bako,” said Kagulong Secretary General Don Pangan.
(Motorcycle lanes are beneficial, however, the roads there are rough.) –Vince Angelo Ferreras/NB, GMA Integrated News
