DENR-6 supports employees amid war on COVID-19

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COViD-19) prompted officials of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) led by Regional Executive Director Francisco E. Milla to also support its regional employees’ safety and protection.

In collaboration with the Regional Public Affairs Office (RPAO) and the DENR Western Visayas Employees’ Union, washable face masks, gloves, and free lunch were provided to the employees.

RPAO Chief Artemio Salvador C. Colacion and Union President Emma P. Delima purchased 250 washable masks and gloves. These were initially distributed to employees on skeletal work schedule last April 20, 2020 and on succeeding workdays.

Free lunch was also prepared for all that day.

Colacion also led a short orientation and demonstration among employees on how to use and properly dispose masks and gloves.

On April 23, 2020, the DENR Employees Cooperative (DEMCO) distributed packs of rice in support to COVID-19 and Enhanced Community Quarantine implementation. The fund for the assistance was taken from its Community Development Fund (CDF) utilization and as part of its compliance to the Memorandum Order from the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) issued last March 20, 2020.

The activity was also in coordination with CDA Region 6 Director Doreen Ancheta. The first wave of rice distribution was repacked from six sacks of rice for the following recipients: DENR Region 6 and PENRO Iloilo janitorial services, lockdown carpenters at DENR 6 Compound, drivers, frontliners and DEMCO staff and personnel.
“We owe it to ourselves to also look out for the much-needed support for our own employees in this time of crisis. Our various offices are conducting their respective relief operations as well especially for the Peoples’ Organizations (POs) that work with us in accomplishing the targets for our programs. Let us help each other to survive this crisis,” DENR 6 regional executive director Francisco E. Milla Jr. said.

Majority of the DENR 6 personnel are on skeletal force and work from home scheme in order to lessen the impact of local transmission of the corona virus disease.

DENR Secretary Roy A. Cimatu had earlier called on all DENR employees to abide by the rules and guidance of the Department of Health and COVID-19 Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases. (DENR-6)