CSC urged to issue workplace guidelines for gov’t offices

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla on Monday called on the Civil Service Commission of the Philippines (CSC) to issue workplace quarantine guidelines for government offices amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

In a statement, Revilla cited the guidelines earlier issued by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) meant to assist private institutions allowed to operate during the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) and the general community quarantine (GCQ).

“Malaking bagay ang inilabas na guidelines ng DOLE at ng DTI upang gabayan ang mga manggagawa at mga negosyo sa kanilang muling pagbubukas at pagbibigay serbisyo sa publiko sa gitna ng patuloy na pagpapatupad ng Enhanced Community Quarantine at General Community Quarantine sa ating bansa at maigting na pagsasaalang-alang pa rin sa kalusugan at kaligtasan ng lahat,” Revilla said.

(The guidelines released by DOLE and the DTI would really be helpful in assisting workers and businesses in reopening amid the ongoing Enhanced Community Quarantine and General Community Quarantine in the country and with the  health and safety of the public in mind)

Under DOLE and DTI’s interim guidelines, workers and employers are required to follow total precautionary measures to reduce the transmission of the novel coronavirus.

Among the health and safety measures to be imposed under the interim guidelines of DOLE and the DTI include:

• Wearing of face masks at all times. Masks to be provided by employers.

• Mandatory temperature check before entering the workplace. Workers would also be required to accomplish a health symptoms questionnaire.

• Physical distancing of one meter

• Frequent disinfection of workplaces and communal areas. Sanitizers, soap and water should also be made available.

• Alternative work arrangements, such as working hour shifts and work-from-home schemes, will be adopted.

• Workers 60 years old and above, and those with co-morbidities or pre-existing illnesses, should be allowed to work from home.

• Online systems, such as videoconferencing, will be encouraged. Meetings needing physical presence will be kept to a minimum number of participants and will be of short duration.

Revilla, who heads of the Senate Committee on Civil Service, Government Reorganization and Professional Regulation, urged the CSC to issue similar guidelines for government offices which will resume work as well as for frontline workers who will transact with the general public.

Under the Omnibus Guidelines on the Implementation of Community Quarantine issued by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID), all agencies and instrumentalities of the government, including government-owned and controlled corporation and local government units, in areas under ECQ, would be allowed to operate with a skeleton workforce.

Meanwhile, work in government offices in areas under GCQ may operate at full capacity.

“I encourage the businesses, workers and the private sector to strictly implement and to follow these protocols for everyone’s safety, Revilla said.

“Hindi pa po tapos ang laban natin sa (COVID-19). Kailangan nating patuloy na magkaisa para mapagtagumpayan natin ang laban na ito,” he added.

(Our fight against COVID-19 is not yet over. We should continue to work together to win this battle).

Metro Manila and other high risk areas remain under ECQ until May 15 while moderate to low risk provinces are under GCQ status since May 1.

Philippine health officials have confirmed 9,223 COVID-19 cases nationwide as of Sunday afternoon.

One thousand two hundred fourteen patients have recovered while 607 others have died.

GSG