DOJ eyes reduction of workforce amid increasing COVID-19 cases

FILE PHOTO: Department of Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra. INQUIRER/GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice (DOJ) is looking at reducing its workforce following recent increases in new coronavirus infections.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said they are still awaiting clearance from the Office of the President regarding the plan, which also seeks the weekly disinfection of the DOJ premises.

As of January 6, the DOJ has reported a total of 35 COVID-19 cases in all their offices nationwide.

Based on the data provided by Justice Undersecretary Emmeline Aglipay-Villar, of the 16 DOJ offices in the country, four offices have recorded active COVID-19 cases. These were DOJ Main in Manila with 21 cases; Region 1, one case; Region 3, six cases; and Region 4, seven cases.

Since 2020, the DOJ has recorded 741 cases of COVID-19 with its main office having the most number of cases at 133, followed by Region 4A with 111 cases, and Region 3 with 79 cases.

Records also showed that no DOJ staff died from the virus.

Meanwhile, the DOJ office in Region 3 has the highest number of vaccinated personnel at 99.57 percent followed by Region 10 at 99.10 percent.

At the DOJ main office, 768 of 804 regular and contractual employees were already fully vaccinated against COVID-19 while two personnel have received their first dose.

KGA