DND urges civilian bureaus to adopt workforce measures amid Code Red Sub-Level 2

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Friday urged civilian bureaus of his department to adopt their own work measures after President Rodrigo Duterte raised Code Red Sub-Level 2 over the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) situation in the country.

“Our other civilian bureaus, specifically the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office, Office of Civil Defense, National Defense College of the Philippines and Government Arsenal are encouraged to adopt their own workforce measures to ensure the continuity of frontline and essential services, such as the processing of veterans claims and production of material,” Lorenzana said in a press statement.

He further said the civilian bureaus were ordered to implement other preventive guidelines such as “social distancing measures, enforcing proper workplace hygiene, and early medical treatment when symptoms manifest in the workforce.”

Lorenzana said the DND would maintain a skeletal civilian workforce for its frontline services and other critical office functions.

Meanwhile, Lorenzana assured the public that the Armed Forces of the Philippines will continue its operations while assisting the police  in implementing preventive measures against COVID-19.

“The AFP shall assist the Philippine National Police in implementing the community quarantine in certain areas, and will help ensure the availability of units and personnel, critical logistics and supplies, as well as emergency medical teams, among others,” Lorenzana said.

Duterte already placed Metro Manila under community quarantine following the continued increase of the cases. At present, there are already 52 confirmed COVID-19 cases.

Concerned government agencies are still working on the guidelines of the domestic travel restrictions to and from Metro Manila following the Chief Executive's order. — Anna Felicia Bajo/RSJ, GMA News