More tax office workers to undergo COVID swab test

By Dolly Yasa

 

BACOLOD City – More employees of the Land Tax Division (LTD) at the Bacolod Government Center here will be subjected to swab tests after an employee of the said office tested positive for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Mayor Evelio Leonardia said the LTD was also placed under 14-day lockdown.

At least 44 LTD employees were already subjected to swab test after a colleague tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 which causes the disease.

Leonardia also said in a virtual press conference during the weekend that to avoid the possibility of infecting their families, the employees stayed in the office and were transferred to quarantine centers and other places the next day.

He said that while the LTD office is under lockdown, payment of land taxes will be accommodated by the Licensing Division of the City Treasurer’s Office and will be handled by assistant City Treasurer Arlene Memoria, who used to head the Land Tax Division.

On Wednesday last week, the Government Center was closed for disinfection while the old City Hall at downtown area was locked down on July 27 after employees of different offices were infected of the virus.

Earlier, an employee of the General Services Office at the old city tested positive of the virus and infected 19 other employees at the old city hall.

Leonardia said all employees of the General Services Office at City Hall tested negative of the virus.

He said the GSO personnel who was assigned to the Bacolod Arts, Youth and Sports (BAYS) Center later tested negative but remains in isolation.

On the other hand City Legal Officer Joselito Bayatan said that if found out that the GSO employee kept his medical condition to himself and still continued reporting to his work, he is liable for dishonesty and endangering public safety.

Reports from some old city hall employees said that the GSO worker continued to do his work after he was reportedly swabbed.

Bayatan urged city government employees to be honest on their health condition so as not to endanger others.