Work suspended at House of Representatives until April 12

Work at the House of Representatives has been suspended from March 16 to April 12 to prevent transmission of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

In a statement, House Secretary General Jose Montales said Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano made the decision after President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday suspended work in the executive department until April 12 as part of measures to curb the pandemic .

“With the health and safety of the employees of the House of Representatives in mind, Speaker Cayetano has decided to adopt a work schedule parallel to the one to be implemented by the Executive Department. There will be work suspension in the House from March 16 to April 12,” Montales said.

House employees will be on call and may be required to report to office to perform their official duties to attend to public welfare.

Committee hearings, briefings, and conferences may also be conducted at the House with the strict observance of social distancing measures.

“In those events, measures that would minimize risks by facilitating social distancing shall be strictly implemented,” Montales said.

“These work arrangements are meant to balance our concerns for the health and safety of the House personnel, and our duty to the nation as public servants,” Montales added.

The Office of the Sergeant at Arms-Legislative Security Bureau, Finance Department, Engineering and Physical Facilities Department, and Information Communications Technology Service, on the other hand, will have a rotating skeletal workforce for the duration of the work suspension.

“Those not on rotating skeletal workforce who will be allowed to work from home are required to timely submit their assigned outputs using telecommunication and online technologies,” Montales said. —LDF, GMA News