BUENAVISTA, Guimaras – The local government unit (LGU) here is now enforcing new work arrangements for officials and employees to avoid contracting coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Mayor Eugenio Reyes issued Executive Order No. 056, Series of 2020 for this on Oct. 30.
“The threat of COVID-19 pandemic still subsists, as per World Health Organization report,” according to Reyes.
He ordered a combination of work-from-home and skeleton office workforce schemes.
In a week, municipal employees are required to report for duty at the municipal hall for three days, then work at home for two days “to complete the mandatory 40-hour workweek.”
“In the work-from-home (scheme), employees are given tasks to perform to the full extent possible in terms of man-days per workweek,” according to Reyes.
Head of offices, section heads, rank-and-file as well as job hire employees in the work-from-home arrangement must make themselves available during the working hours and may be required to report for duty, if necessary.
“Appropriate measures to uphold the confidentiality of information shall be, at all times, be observed. An accomplishment report, for the days during work-from-home, shall be submitted together with the Daily Time Record for it to be counted as man-day,” added Reyes.
The working hours are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Reyes previously set the working hours at the municipal hall from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. due to the limited number of public utility vehicles operating.
“Ang mga transportation nagbalik naman halos asta na 8 p.m., so puwede na makapauli sang 5 p.m. ang aton mga empleyado,” he said.
Reyes said it would be up to the department heads to manage the new work arrangements of their staff.
The goal, he said, is to have only 50 percent of the municipal government workforce reporting to the municipal hall to work and the other 50 percent work at home. Reyes said this would ensure physical distancing at the town hall.
As of Nov. 2, Buenavista recorded 62 cumulative cases of coronavirus disease 2019. Of these, 61 recovered already, leaving one case still active./PN
