President Rodrigo Duterte asked the private companies to consider the welfare of their workers who are affected by the community quarantine.
During a televised address, Duterte said that the big enterprises could give the 13th-month pay of their workers, or just give them half of their monthly salary in advance so they’re not going to worry about being jobless for 30 days.
“Yung malalaking enterprises dito, maybe you can consider paying the 13th month pay, or just paying them, maski kalahati sa sweldo nila, as a way of showing your solidarity with the Filipino.” Duterte said.
He also asked business tycoons like Manuel V. Pangilinan, Fernando Zobel de Ayala to help the government during COVID-19 outbreak.
“Mga mayayaman like for example Pangilinan and the Ayalas and sila Cuson you might be able to alleviate the situation just by understanding the plight of workers who are not working now,” the President said.
The President also announced that San Miguel Corporation and other food companies already assured the government that there will be sufficient food supply in the coming weeks.
One of the main concerns of the Filipinos during the community quarantine in Metro Manila is there where to get the money to buy food and other basic necessities for a month.
Even Senator Christopher “Bong” Go already asked the private companies for the early release of the 13-month pay.
“Kahit prorated lang, malaking tulong na iyan sa ating mga kababayan habang naka-community quarantine,” Go said.
He also urged the companies to allow their workers to go on leave or do work from home during the community quarantine period.
“Kung maaari, huwag na natin papasukin ang ating mga empleyado sa opisina lalo na kung kaya naman magampanan ang trabaho nila mula sa bahay sa pamamagitan ng teknolohiya,” he said.
Duterte also recently announced that he’s going to put the whole Luzon under ‘enhanced community quarantine’ until April 12 because there are already reported cases of COVID-19 in provinces outside Manila.