Strictly enforce health protocols in workplaces, gov’t agencies told

By Prince Golez

The Office of the President ordered all government agencies and instrumentalities, including government-owned and -controlled corporations to ensure compliance with Covid-19 safety and health measures.

Memorandum Circular No. (MC) 86 signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea last May 11, 2021 directed the heads of these agencies to “empower and mobilize their respective Safety and Health Committees” to strictly adhere to Covid-19 guidelines in their respective workplaces.

“There is a need to monitor compliance with health protocols in the workplaces of all government agencies and instrumentalities, to mitigate and suppress the spread of Covid-19 in the said areas while ensuring the continuous delivery of public services,” the memo read.

Agencies and instrumentalities of the executive branch are enjoined to encourage the active participation of employees’ associations in their respective workplaces to ensure prompt communication and wider compliance.

The circular regarded the temporary closure of premises as an “extreme measure, reserved for situations where the spread of Covid-19 in the workplace has become overwhelming and unmanageable.”

Such closures shall be governed by the following rules:

-The head of an agency or instrumentality considering to temporarily close its main or central office shall submit to the head of the department exercising control or supervision over it, or to which it is attached, a request for clearance to shut down the premises. The request shall state the proposed duration of the measure and must be supported by verified data and other documentation. No closure shall be implemented until the clearance is obtained from the head of the department.

-The temporary closure of branches, and regional or field offices can be decided by the head of the concerned department, agency, or instrumentality. In the case of agencies or instrumentalities, they shall notify the head of the department exercising control or supervision over them, or to which they are attached, of the temporary closure and the measures adopted to ensure the continuous and uninterrupted delivery of public service.

-Agencies or instrumentalities not under the control or supervision of or attached to any department, as well as departments considering temporary closure of their main or central offices, shall submit their request for clearance to the Office of the President.

MC 86 also prohibits temporary closures merely to conduct disinfection of premises, which should be done after office hours or on weekends.

Violation or failure to implement the circular shall subject the head of the agency and the responsible members of the Safety and Health Committee to administrative sanctions.

The offices of the legislative and judicial branches of government, independent constitutional commissions, and bodies, and local government units are strongly urged to adopt the applicable provisions of this circular.

Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)