Executive Order No. 014
Series of 2021

AN ORDER DIRECTING FOR A MANDATORY RANDOM COVID-19 TESTING
IN ALL COMPANIES WITHIN THE TERRITORIAL JURISDICTION OF THE
MUNICIPALITY OF PULILAN, BULACAN

WHEREAS, Article II, Section 15 of the Philippine Constitution provides that the State shall protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them;

WHEREAS, the National Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (NIATF-EID) provided Guidelines for the management of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Situation;

WHEREAS, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) issued the DTI and DOLE Interim Guidelines on Workplace Prevention and Control of COVID-19;

WHEREAS, as of March 09, 2021 there has been a recent rise in the number of COVID-19 cases in Pulilan with 493 Total Confirmed Cases, 116 Active Cases among which 43 are Symptomatic and 73 are Asymptomatic;

WHEREAS, there is a need to issue an order requiring companies within the jurisdiction of Pulilan to conduct a mandatory random COVID-19 testing to assist in controlling the spread of the virus within the community.

NOW THEREFORE, I, MARIA ROSARIO OCHOA-MONTEJO, Municipal Mayor of Pulilan, Bulacan, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order the following:

SECTION I. COMPLIANCE. All business establishments/companies/employers shall test workers for COVID-19 in the form of a mandatory random test. Testing kits used and procured shall be the responsibility of the employer. DOH protocols shall be followed for the testing of workers and interpretation of results. Should an employee test positive during random testing, it shall be the company’s responsibility to have said employee undergo RT-PCR testing (swabbing) at a DOH-accredited facility, at no cost to such employee, for verification. If said employee tests positive for COVID-19 after RT-PCR testing, the company shall, as soon as possible, report such result to the Municipal Health Office for appropriate action.

SECTION II. SUPPORTING GUIDELINES.
Workers with a negative test shall continue to work. They should be given appropriate advice and instructions once they develop any health complaints or symptoms. The company Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) personnel shall continue to monitor all workers.

The company must have a reporting mechanism or protocol if there is a COVID-19 case within their establishment.

If even one (1) worker is positive of COVID-19, the entire establishment/workplace will be shut down and cease its operation until further notice for the purpose of disinfecting and contact tracing.

Proof of compliance as to the implementation of the required protocols herein shall be made available for inspection at any time to the Municipal Health Office.

SECTION III. EFFECTIVITY. This Executive Order shall take effect immediately upon signing and will remain in effect unless otherwise revoked.

SO ORDERED.

Done this 18th day of March 2021, at Municipality of Pulilan, Bulacan.

MARIA ROSARIO OCHOA-MONTEJO
Municipal Mayor