Lean workforce for gov’t agencies

Malacañang on Monday night released Memorandum Circular 79 on the operational capacity to be adopted by government agencies and instrumentalities during a modified enhanced community quarantine or MECQ.

Base on the memo signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, all government agencies and instrumentalities of the executive branch including GOCC (government -owned or -controlled corporations) located in all geographical areas placed under MECQ, shall adopt a skeleton workforce up to a maximum of 50 percent operational capacity at any given time, unless a higher operational capacity is required in agencies providing health and emergency frontline border control and other critical services.

Medialdea said all agencies, including every office and unit therein, shall also ensure that the delivery of their respective services are not hampered or impaired during MECQ.

“Towards this end, all heads of agencies, while maintaining compliance with the operational capacity provided herein, shall adopt the most appropriate alternative work arrangements for their respective agencies, in accordance with the relevant rules and regulations of the Civil Service Commission (CSC),” the memo read.

“The offices of the agencies and judicial branch of government, independent constitutional commissions and bodies, and LGU (local government units) located in areas placed under MECQ, are strongly urged to adopt the provisions of the Circular which shall take effect immediately,” it added.

President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday night approved the recommendation of the Department of Health to put the National Capital Region, Bulacan, Rizal, Cavite and Laguna under MECQ from 4 to 18 August 2020 due to rising cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the president also approved the Cabinet’s recommendation to issue work and quarantine passes to minimize movement.