Napolcom workers getting sick due to building renovation

MANILA, Philippines - The National Police Commission (Napolcom) vowed on Tuesday to continue serving the public despite the renovation work being done on its 30-year old building in Makati. The five-story building is outmoded and defective. And its employees are getting sick of it – literally. Isidro D. Siriban, Napolcom personnel and administrative service director, said: "We trust that the new renovations will redound to a more improved and efficient Napolcom service delivery." The problem is that the renovation work – which goes on even during office hours – has also been affecting the health of employees, according Raymundo Bitancol, the president of the Napolcom Employees Association (Napema) Many employees, especially the older ones, suffer from coughs, fever, colds, and even abdominal pain due to inhalation of smoke, dust particles, and smell of chemicals, such as paint. Several employees had developed respiratory tract infections that could spread throughout the building. "Many of us have fallen ill, others seriously," Bitancol said. "We can no longer work effectively, and we hope that we could be given immediate relief as soon as possible." Several departments have been temporarily closed and their occupants transferred and to any available office spaces. What makes it worse is that the building’s central air-conditioning system has been shut down, turning the already congested offices seem like a hot oven. "Because there were not too many spaces, there has been no proper ventilation," Bitancol said. "We’re like sardines here. Who would be able to work under this situation?” In the Planning and Research Service (PRS), more than half of its 50 staffers have been diagnosed with various illnesses, prompting the Napolcom resident doctor, Imerey Maniti-Ramos, to ask for the disinfection and thorough cleanup of the entire department. In a letter to Commissioner Miguel Coronel, Ramos said: "There is an increasing number of employees that seek consultation at the clinic with the same medical complaint such as fever, cough, colds, abdominal pain, to name a few. Due to this, a possible viral/bacterial infection might be present within the area. In addition to this, a thorough cleanup of said Service is advised. With this, we could apprehend the occurrence of epidemic within the Commission." Bitancol said the union has proposed to the Napolcom officials that they be temporarily transferred to another building until the renovation is completed in October. The NAPEMA is also asking that they be allowed to work in flexible time basis so the employees would have sufficient time to rest and seek proper medical care. Asked for comment, the Napolcom personnel and administrative service chief, Director Isidro Siriban, said Napolcom officials recognized the plight of the employees. "We are doing our best to look after their welfare and health," Siriban said. The renovation work involves the following: • renovation of lthe chairman’s office • replacement of the old and damaged marble floor tiles at the lobby entrances of the third and fifth floors • replacement the old and damaged vinyl floor tiles in all offices of the building • replacement the damaged steel casement windows at the common comfort rooms and stairways • repair of the fire alarm system • installing of movable partitions at the multi-purpose hall • installation of new fire ladder for the front facade

- GMANews.TV