By Chino Leyco
The Department of Finance (DOF) headquarters in Manila will be closed starting Thursday, March 12, for cleaning and disinfecting.
Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III, who is currently under self-isolation after being exposed to a person confirmed for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infection, said that the closure is part of the precautionary measures to contain the spread of the respiratory illness.
On Wednesday night, Dominguez announced that he interacted with somebody who tested positive for COVID-19.
The finance chief said he decided to undergo self-quarantine even if he is not experiencing any symptoms.
Dominguez said the DOF will resume operations once the disinfection is completed and upon the advice of the Department of Health (DOH).
He also said that premises of the DOF’s attached agencies, including the Bureau of Internal Revenue and Bureau of Customs, will be cleaned and disinfected over the weekend.
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) headquarters, which is connected to the DOF building, is also on lockdown Thursday to undergo disinfection.
Manila-based Asian Development Bank (ADB), likewise, ordered its staff to temporarily work from home on Thursday following advice that a visitor to the headquarters has tested positive for COVID-19.
ADB said that its facilities will undertake cleaning and disinfecting but will continue to operate. Its management will make a decision in the coming days as to when to reopen the bank premises.
“The safety of staff, visitors to the bank, and their families is of utmost importance to us. We are providing support to staff who interacted with the visitor,” Deborah Stokes, ADB vice president for administration and corporate management said.