Revilla to CSC: Issue interim guidelines on safety, prevention and control of COVID-19 in gov't offices, workplace

Senator Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr. on Monday urged the Civil Service Commission to issue interim guidelines on safety, prevention and control of the spread of COVID-19 in government offices and workplaces located in areas under the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) and General Community Quarantine (GCQ).

The veteran legislator pointed out the urgent need to provide such measures to ensure continuous delivery of public service sans putting at risk the health and safety of government employees and their clientele.

He further added that the creation of interim guidelines from CSC will intensify the safety measures being adopted by various local government units, following the implementation of Executive Order No. 112 which allows all agencies and instrumentalities of the government to implement a skeletal workforce during the duration of ECQ and GCQ.

As Chairman of the Senate Committee on Civil Service, Government Reorganization and Professional Regulation, Bong Revilla expressed his willingness to work with CSC in crafting similar guidelines to protect the public sector.

"Napakalaking hamon po ang kinakaharap ng ating mga kawani ng pamahalaan sa panahong ito. Kahit po apektado tayo ng ECQ o GCQ, hindi puwedeng maputol ang pagseserbisyo natin sa taong bayan. Habang ginagampanan ng mga kawani ng gobyerno ang kanilang tungkulin, kailangan tiyakin din natin ang kaligtasan at kapakanan nila. So we are urging the Civil Service Commission to work hand-in-hand with the Senate Committee on Civil Service, Government Reorganization and Professional Regulation to create the necessary guidelines which will ensure that our government workers are protected from COVID-19 while performing their duties," Revilla said.

Revilla earlier commended the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Labor and Employment for coming up with guidelines for companies which will re-open amid the COVID-19 pandemic.