UNIVERSITY OF THE EAST

CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

Caloocan

COURSE: Civil Engineering

ACTIVITY NO. : MODULE ____: ACTIVITY NO.1

TITLE: Reaction Paper on: ARTICLE/JOURNAL TITLE

NAME: Zafra, Julie Ann A.

SECTION: 4B

PROFESSOR: Christine P. Torio

DATE: November 7, 2023

RATING:
 The COVID-19 pandemic has had significant impacts on the Philippine
construction industry, affecting economies and industries worldwide. An online survey
was conducted with 50 project managers, executives, and project staff from contracting
companies based in the National Capital Region to investigate the impacts of the
pandemic on the construction industry. The survey revealed prominent impacts such as
financial burden, project suspension and delays, reduced productivity, and difficulties in
material and equipment procurement. However, the pandemic also presented
opportunities, including increased demand for healthcare and infrastructure projects.
Contractors implemented risk management methods such as health and safety
protocols, digital technologies, and workforce transformation through remote work.

The COVID-19 pandemic has left an indelible mark on industries across the
globe, and the Philippine construction sector has not been immune to its far-reaching
effects. One of the most prominent challenges facing construction companies in the
Philippines has been the financial burden resulting from the imposition of additional
health and safety requirements. These requirements include the procurement of
personal protective equipment (PPE), mandatory testing, and enhanced sanitization
measures.

The additional health and safety requirements imposed during the pandemic led
to a financial burden for contractors, as they had to invest in personal protective
equipment and implement safety protocols. The pandemic caused project suspensions
and delays due to restrictions on movement and workforce limitations. Reduced
manpower and staggered work shift affected productivity and led to project delays.
Travel restrictions and disrupted supply chains resulted in difficulties in procuring
materials and equipment. Contractors had to shift to alternative suppliers to overcome
these challenges. The pandemic led to decreased demand for warehouse construction
projects and increased delays or cancellations of oil and gas sector-related projects.

Implement strict health and safety protocols, including the use of personal
protective equipment, temperature checks, and mandatory testing for suspect cases, to
mitigate the risk of COVID-19 infection and reduce workers' anxiety. Stagger work
operations and adopt flexible work arrangements, such as remote work or shift
rotations, to decrease the number of people onsite at the same time. Conduct thorough
assessment and analysis of market trends to identify shifts in project demands and
adjust business strategies accordingly. Embrace digital technologies, such as data
analytics, drones, and cloud-based applications, to enhance productivity and streamline
construction processes. Consider the adoption of prefabrication and modularization
methods to increase productivity without significantly increasing project costs.

This includes using personal protective equipment, temperature checks, and

mandatory testing for suspect cases, among others, to ensure the safety of workers and
mitigate the risk of COVID-19 infection. This strategy involves reducing the number of
people onsite at the same time through shift rotations or remote work, ensuring social
distancing and minimizing the risk of infection. Considering prefabrication and
modularization methods: The adoption of these construction methods allows for
increased productivity without significantly increasing project costs, providing a more
efficient and cost-effective approach to construction.

The responsible people for implementing health and safety protocols would be
the contractors and project managers, who would ensure compliance with guidelines
such as the Department Order No. 30 Series of 2021. The implementation should be
immediate and ongoing to ensure the safety of personnel and the completion of
projects. Project managers and human resource teams would be responsible for
implementing staggered work operations and flexible work arrangements. This strategy
should be implemented promptly to reduce the number of people onsite at the same
time and ensure social distancing.