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| Executive Sec. Salvador Medialdea. (Photo from: Presidential Communications) |
[아시아뉴스통신=조날드 타파난 기자] Only 50 percent of government agencies’ workforce will be allowed to physically report for work when the Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) takes effect this Tuesday, August 4.
Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 79, signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea on August 3, directs all agencies and instrumentalities of the executive branch located in areas placed under MECQ to adopt a skeleton workforce up to a maximum of 50 percent operational capacity. On the other hand, agencies and instrumentalities providing health and emergency front-liner services, border control, and other critical services may operate at a higher operational capacity.
The MC also suggests alternative work arrangements for employees as long as they ensure that the delivery of respective services is not hampered or impaired. Offices of the legislative and judicial branches of government, independent commissions and bodies, and local government units (LGUs) located in areas placed under MECQ are strongly urged to adopt the provisions in the MC.
The CSC earlier issued Memorandum Circular NO. 10 (s. 2020), providing for the revised interim guidelines for alternative work arrangements and support mechanisms for workers in government during the period of state of national emergency due to COVID-19 pandemic.
Last Sunday night, President Rodrigo Duterte reverted Manila, Laguna, Cavite, Rizal, and Bulacan to MECQ until August 18, recognizing the plea of overworked medical front-liners’. The two-week MECQ is expected to give front-liners’ a much-needed “breather” from rising COVID-19 cases which have breached over 100,000.
