‘Better normal’ bill hurdles House plenary

BETTER NORMAL. Mall goers observe physical distancing amid the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Lawmakers on Monday (Aug. 10, 2020) unanimously approved House Bill 6864, otherwise known as the proposed “Better normal for the Workplace, Communities and Public Places Act”. (File photo via PNA)

MANILA – A measure establishing public health and safety standards to stem the spread of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) got unanimous vote during third and final reading at the House of Representatives.

During Monday’s plenary session, the chamber passed House Bill 6864, otherwise known as the proposed “Better normal for the Workplace, Communities and Public Places Act”, with 242 affirmative votes, zero negative votes, and no abstention.

Among the universal health and safety measures proposed in the bill include the mandatory wearing of masks and observance of physical distancing of at least one meter in public places.

It also seeks to impose mandatory temperature checks, availability of handwashing and sanitizing stations in public areas, nationwide testing drive, contact-tracing systems and establishment of government-operated quarantine facilities, among others.

Local government units shall regulate public gatherings as well as the flow of people in government-managed public spaces, while privately-organized gatherings in privately-managed spaces shall comply with the universal and mandatory safety measures.

For the management of public transportation, mandatory safety measures shall be imposed in terminals, interiors of public utility vehicles, mass transportation and app-based transport network services.

The bill states that passengers shall be seated one seat apart and the use of contactless payment mechanisms shall be imposed.

The bill promotes a flexible learning program to limit physical contact among the school population.

It requires firms to submit a workplace management plan determining their compliance with the necessary safeguards and the universal safety measures provided in the proposed law.