As a response to the government’s effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) XII promptly implemented temporary flexible work arrangements and intensified its sanitation and hygiene measures for its employees.
The Department will follow work from home and skeletal workforce arrangement from March 23 until April 12, 2020, to ensure the employees’ health and safety. Business hours will remain the same from 8:00 in the morning until 5:00 in the afternoon (Mondays to Fridays), the Department confirms.
Regional Director Josephine Cabrido-Leysa, CESO III, has recently signed Regional Memorandum Circular 2020-10 entitled ‘Internal Work Arrangements in the light of Code Red Sublevel 2 re Threats of Covid-19’ which provided the details of the adjusted work scheme. The Order came after President Rodrigo Roa Duterte declared a Public Health Emergency in the entire country.
However, clients are advised to communicate through phone, email, or other online platforms as the Department will temporarily implement a No-Visitor Policy to minimize human-to-human interaction.
Despite the temporary work arrangement, the Department assures its continuous public service and readiness in assisting the local government units and the public in this time of national health crisis.
Meanwhile, offices are routinely disinfected as an added precaution. Employees coming in and out of the Regional Office also have to follow strict hygiene and sanitation protocols implemented by the Department. Social distancing is also promoted among the employees. According to RD Leysa, these steps ‘are our little way of helping in the campaign against coronavirus. It is not much but you will realize it is important because it could save lives.”
A ‘hand wash sink’ was already installed at the entrance of the main building of DILG XII requiring both clients and personnel to wash their hands before entering the office. Afterwards, masked security personnel with disinfectant/ antiseptic sprays the employees’ or guests’ hands.
Through these efforts, RD Leysa believes that the Virus War can be easily won. She also called on every employee, personnel and regional staff to ‘comply with the quarantine procedures’ to win against the menace or Covid-19.
