Vulnerability of ICT field personnel to COVID-19. There were not enough PPEs (facemasks, face shields, gloves) and sanitation and hygienic materials for field workers. At work, worktables were spaced to ensure physical distancing.
Public Works At the early stage of the ECQ, there was moratorium in the implementation of road and bridge projects with about 24 percent of the total number of projects put on hold. With the easing of quarantine restrictions, implementation of some public works projects resumed. The following are the major projects completed as of March 2020:
Concreting of 2-lane local road connecting the towns of Balasan and Carles in Iloilo. This will benefit travellers along Barangays Camambugan and Sulong in Balasan, especially farmers and fisherfolks in northern Iloilo;
Re-blocking and repair of 2.18-kilometer road along Binalbagan-Isabela Road in Negros Occidental, which connects agricultural areas to markets;
Construction of 2 flood control structures along Jalaur River for protection of residents of Barangays Tabucan, Barotac Nuevo and Poblacion, Passi City in Iloilo;
Construction of Bacolod City’s Regional Evacuation Center (REC) with maximum capacity of 30 families or 150 individuals. Eight (8) buildings were constructed with accommodation, office, infirmary, laundry and drying area, separate toilet and bath for male and female, pump room, generator room, and materials recovery facility. The REC has its own cistern tank and drainage system.
For areas covered by GCQ, the following essential public and private construction projects are allowed to be implemented despite the risks of COVID-19: sewerage projects, water services facilities projects, digital works, health facilities, priority projects and other similar construction projects related to basic human needs such as but not limited to food production, agriculture, shelter necessary to address housing backlog, energy and communication, among others. Border restrictions hindered movement of construction personnel and materials. Despite guidelines issued to ensure continuity of public works projects, border restrictions imposed by LGUs limit movement of construction personnel and materials. DPWH has instructed no suspension of public works contracts since DBM did not issue any directive to such effect. Guidelines were issued by DPWH for contractors, including manpower and equipment requirement, for continued implementation of infrastructure projects during ECQ. To facilitate ease of mobility of construction workers, the list of contractors, workers and vehicles were submitted by the DPWH to guide border patrols in clearing workers and vehicles at the borders. DPWH resources and personnel were utilized to support COVID-19 frontliners. On top of its regular functions, DPWH provided support to frontliners during the quarantine period. A total of 45 sanitation tents (handwashing and footbaths) for disinfection and sanitation were installed. Daily disinfection/decontamination were conducted for all convergence areas, Western Visayas COVID-19 Regional Recovery Plan Assessment of the Effect of COVID-19 in Region VI 47
