Government agencies have been directed to operate with up to 50 percent of their total workforce on-site during the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) in Metro Manila and four nearby provinces.
In Memorandum Circular No. 79, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea laid down the work arrangements government offices should observe under MECQ to ensure continuous delivery of services while observing the community quarantine guidelines.
The latest Palace circular defined operational capacity as the number of employees who can be permitted or required to physically report to work on-site in a government agency.
Skeleton workforce, on the other hand, refers to the operational capacity that utilizes the smallest number of people needed for a government agency to perform its function.
“All government agencies and instrumentalities of the executive branch, including GOCCs (government-owned or -controlled corporations), located in all geographical areas under MECQ shall adopt a skeleton workforce up to a maximum of 50 % operational capacity at any given time unless a higher operational capacity is required in agencies providing health and emergency frontline services, border control and other critical services,” the circular read.
All concerned government agencies have also been directed to ensure the delivery of their services are “not hampered or impaired.” In this regard, Medialdea said all heads of agencies must also adopt the “most appropriate alternative work arrangements” for their respective agencies in accordance with the Civil Service Commission's rules and regulations.
The Palace has also urged the offices of the legislature and judiciary, independent constitutional commissions and bodies as well as local government units located in MECQ places to adopt the same work arrangements.
The order took effect immediately after it was signed by Medialdea on Monday.
President Duterte has placed Metro Manila, Laguna, Cavite, Rizal, and Bulacan under MECQ from August 4 to 18 following an appeal from the medical community for stricter measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
The tougher lockdown includes the reimposition of the ban on public transportation, limited operations of certain businesses, prohibition on mass gatherings, and domestic travel restrictions.