The DILG-Napolcom Center, located in the corner of EDSA and Quezon Avenue in Quezon City, is on lockdown. Image from the DILG’s Facebook page.
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of the Interior and Local Government-National Police Commission building along Edsa corner Quezon Avenue in Quezon City was placed under a week-long lockdown starting this Monday, two days after Interior Undersecretary for Operations Epimaco Densing III confirmed he has contracted the coronavirus disease.
DILG Undersecretary and spokesperson Jonathan Malaya, however, assured that the lockdown will not affect the department’s delivery of public service since all its Central Office officials and staff will only shift to a work-from-home status.
Malaya said the department will still receive and release documents at the ground floor lobby of the building.
The lockdown will be lifted on July 13.
“We understand that DILG is a frontline agency in this pandemic so we cannot stop operations so our officials will still continue to work at our extension or other offices outside of the DILG-Napolcom Center or from their homes while all our attached agencies are fully operational, especially the PNP (Philippine National Police), BJMP (Bureau of Jail Management and Penology), and BFP (Bureau of Fire Protection),” Malaya said in a statement.
He also assured unhampered operations of the DILG down to the field units.
The building will be subjected to disinfection and contact tracing will be conducted while the building is on lockdown, according to Malaya.
“In extreme cases where key officials and executives really need to enter the office premises, they too shall not interact with other offices,” read the DILG’s press statement.
A “no-visitor policy” will be imposed as DILG personnel are strictly prohibited from entering or exiting the building.
Malaya advised the public to transact official businesses with the DILG through calls, emails, or social media, since the Central Office personnel are working from home.