‘No double standard’ in exemption of gov’t workers from protocols — Palace

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Monday maintained that there is no double standard in exempting government personnel on official business from local government units’ testing and quarantine protocols.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque defended the Interagency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) decision, which allowed government workers on official business to forgo testing and quarantine protocols “as long as they can present valid IDs issued by their respective government agency and an original or a certified true copy of the Travel Authority/Order issued by the Department Secretary or his/her designated official.”

Roque said the decision is meant to ensure the unhampered delivery of public service.

“Wala naman pong double standard dyan dahil unang una, hindi pupuwedeng maantala yung pagbibigay serbisyo ng national government sa iba’t ibang lugar ng Pilipinas,” Roque said in an online briefing.

(There is no double standard because first of all, there can be no delay in the national government’s delivery of service in various parts of the country.)

Roque also noted that government offices have their own protocols as caution against Covid-19.

“Kami po, regular testing po kami sa Office of the President. Kaya nga po kapag merong nagkakasakit e nalalaman namin kaagad,” he said.

(At the Office of the President, we undergo regular testing. That’s why we can immediately know if someone gets sick.)

“Magtiwala naman po tayo na hindi naman papayag na maging spreaders ang mga empleyado ng national government at meron pong mga hakbang na ipinatutupad nang makatulong sa containment ng Covid ang iba’t ibang ahensya ng national government,” he went on.

(Let’s trust that government workers won’t be spreaders because national government agencies undertake steps for the containment of Covid-19.)

According to the IATF, government workers on official business are exempt from testing and quarantine protocols, but they must pass the symptom screen at the point of their destination or upon boarding public transportation and must strictly comply with minimum health protocols.

EDV