The Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) has adopted a work-from-home arrangement after more than 10 of its employees tested positive for the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
In an advisory issued on Saturday, PCOO Undersecretary for Administration and Legal Affairs Marvin Gatpayat said the work-from-home scheme is effective while work operations remain suspended at Malacañan’s New Executive Building (NEB).
Gatpayat made the statement after a total of 13 PCOO personnel have tested positive for Covid-19, as of Saturday afternoon.
“Offices are hereby directed to adopt work-from-home arrangement for the duration of the suspension,” he said.
Work at the NEB was supposed to resume on Monday, July 27, or the day when President Rodrigo Duterte delivers his fifth and penultimate State of the Nation Address.
Gatpayat, however, said the work suspension is extended “until further notice” as a precautionary measure against Covid-19.
He added that shuttle service would also be suspended.
In a separate statement released on Saturday, PCOO Secretary Martin Andanar assured the public that his office, as well as its attached agencies, would continue to fulfill their respective mandates despite the suspension of physical reporting for work at the NEB.
Andanar also ensured that coverage plans and other information dissemination programs would remain unhampered.
“We will continue to carry on in fulfilling our mandate to the Filipino people as we continue to ensure our personnel’s safety towards beating Covid-19 and healing as one nation,” he said.
In March, the main palace and other offices at Malacañan underwent cleaning and disinfection as part of the efforts to stop the further transmissions of Covid-19. (PNA)