MANILA – Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez on Saturday called on private companies to conduct COVID-19 testing for their employees so businesses could reopen sooner.

Speaking to radio DZMM, Lopez said the private sector could set up their own COVID-19 testing facilities to help augment the country’s testing capacity.

“Malaki ang maitutulong ng private sector para makabalik din sila sa operation nila (The private sector can help in a big way so they could also resume operations). They can do their testing. They can invest on these testing facilities with the guidance of DOH (Department of Health),” he said.

The national government earlier said it was eyeing to conduct 8,000 to 10,000 COVID-19 tests by the end of April.

By increasing the testing capacity, Lopez said it would help them come up with the possible lifting or downgrading of the enhanced community quarantine.

Health officials have earlier said testing would help identify virus carriers who need to be isolated, aiding containment.

Hundreds of businesses were forced to temporarily close after President Rodrigo Duterte placed Luzon under lockdown on March 17 to rein in the highly-contagious disease. Set to end on April 30, the lockdown has been extended in Metro Manila, the epicenter of the outbreak here, and other provinces until May 15.

Despite the extension, Lopez assured the public that movement of cargo and the supply chain of basic necessities would continue.

Those involved in manufacturing and processing of basic food products, essential products, medicine and medical supplies; retail establishments such as groceries and drug stores; logistics service providers such as trucking and shipping lines; hospitals and medical clinics; and food preparations and water refilling stations shall remain open.

Meanwhile, on areas under a general community quarantine, Lopez said they are allowed to open malls for non-leisure shops, continue essential construction projects and operate public transport at reduced capacity.

These areas are also allowed to open businesses engaged in agriculture, fisheries and forestry at 100 percent. They are also recommended to open 50 to 100 percent of other firms in manufacturing, electronics and exports, e-commerce and delivery for essential and non-essential items, repair and maintenance services, housing and office services.