The Dumaguete City government has pared down its workforce to the minimum to prevent the spread of Covid-19 as the current surge continues.
A media release from the city public information office yesterday stated that Mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo issued on Tuesday an office order for a skeleton workforce at the City Hall effective immediately. The rest of the staff will have to work from home, it added.
The reduction of the city’s workforce came as health authorities in Negros Oriental said that Dumaguete is now the “epicenter” of Covid-19 in the province.
The mayor, who is himself recovering from Covid-19, was quoted as saying that only a minimum number of personnel is required to man the offices.
The skeleton workforce and work-from-home arrangements are allowed under Civil Service Memorandum Circular No. 10, series of 2020.
At the height of the pandemic last year, the city had also adopted the work-from-home scheme.
The scheme covers employees aged 21 and below, those above 60 years old, or those aged between 21-59 with immune deficiency, co-morbidities, other health risks, or are pregnant.
The city has also suspended the use of biometrics for logging in and out, face-to-face events, meetings, lectures, training, and similar activities.
Disinfection of government offices will be held twice a week, and the mandatory adherence to basic health protocols such as wearing of face masks and face shields is reiterated.
The Provincial Health Office reported that, as of June 9, Dumaguete City has the highest number of active Covid-19 infections at 614 in the whole of Negros Oriental.*PNA
