Mayor imposes alternative work scheme to avert COVID spread

By Dolly Yasa 

 

BACOLOD City – Mayor Evelio Leonardia ordered the implementation of “an alternative work arrangement” to avert the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Leonardia said the alternative work arrangement is a combination of “work-from-home” and “staggered working hours” permissible under Provision 3.5 of Civil Service Commission (CSC) Memorandum Circular No. 10 series of 2020 due to quarantine measures and/or treatment relative to COVID-19.

The alternative work arrangement was to be implemented starting August 10, but since the mayor later ordered to place the Bacolod City Government Center under lockdown from August 10 to 16, the arrangement started Monday.

Under Memorandum No. 84, department and office heads shall form two teams – Work-from- Home Team (WH Team) and On Actual Duty Team (AD Team) – that will alternately render actual duties in the office for one week at a time.

Each team should have personnel per section and/or division so that services will be unhampered.

For the team not on actual duty, a work-from-home arrangement (WH Team) may be implemented, while the other team shall be on actual duty (AD Team).

These two teams shall interchange roles in the alternate of one week: the WH Team turning into AD Team, and vice versa.

Those in the WH Team are strictly required to perform tasks to the full extent of his position in terms of man-days per work week; and to make himself available during the work hours while at home, with communication lines always open in whatever gadget or equipment for whatever instructions or work performances directed by his office.

Should there be a member of the AD Team who will test positive for the virus, the whole team shall be immediately quarantined for two weeks, and the WH Team will take over.

In instances where members of both teams will be infected by the virus, their office will be temporarily closed.

For government officials and employees who have undergone the required period of quarantine and or treatment for COVID-19 due to localized transmission while in the performance of their official functions, their absence from work during the 14-day period shall be considered as excused absences and shall not be chargeable against their leave credits.