Duterte orders gov’t agencies to remain operational under alert level system

FILE PHOTO More than 27 million people — a quarter of the Philippine population — were given 24-hours’ notice of the new restrictions that have shuttered many businesses, halted public transport and grounded flights in the capital and four surrounding provinces as the government battles to rein in the virus. (Photo by Ted ALJIBE / AFP)

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered government agencies and instrumentalities to remain fully operational, subject to the required on-site workforce under the Alert Level System guidelines in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Duterte issued Memorandum Circular No. 93—a copy of which was released to reporters on Monday—in a bid to balance health and delivery of public services.

Under the memorandum, government agencies and instrumentalities under Alert Level 5 shall implement a skeleton workforce on-site.

The rest of workers would be under alternative work arrangements “unless a greater on-site capacity is required in agencies providing health and emergency frontline services, laboratory and testing services, border control, or other critical services, in accordance with the relevant rules and regulations by the Civil Service Commission.”

Meanwhile, under Alert Levels 4, 3, and 2, on-site workforce must be at least 40 percent, 60 percent, and 80 percent, respectively.

On-site workforce requirements will be subject to physical distancing requirements, among other health protocols.

Currently, the entire country is under Alert Level 2 until the end of the year.

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