All Manila City government departments, bureaus, and offices will only allow 30 percent of their employees to physically report for work starting Monday (March 15) amid the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the city.
This was announced by Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso on Sunday (March 14) after an emergency meeting with the city's department heads regarding the COVID-19 situation in Manila.
"Babalik tayo sa pagbabawas ng mga tao sa city hall para precautionary measure (We will return to limiting the people in the city hall as a precautionary measure)," Domagoso said in a live broadcast on Facebook. "I believe in you na kahit kaunti lang tayo, makakapag-function tayo efficiently (that even if there are a few of us, we will be able to function efficiently)."
Meanwhile, some offices will be exempted from the order, including the Manila Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (MDRRMO), Department of Public Services, Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau, Manila Health Department, Manila Department of Social Welfare (MDSW), and the city's six district hospitals.
These are Sta. Ana Hospital, Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Medical Center, Justice Jose Abad Santos General Hospital, Ospital ng Maynila Medical Center, Ospital ng Sampaloc, and Ospital ng Tondo.
Also, the mayor said he has ordered Brig. Gen. Leo Francisco, Manila Police District (MPD) director, to cancel all leaves, except medical leaves, to address the COVID-19 situation in the city. Members of the MPD-SWAT team will also be deployed to maintain peace and order.
Domagoso said he will conduct random inspections across all barangays in the city and would not hesitate to sack negligent officials.
All vehicles of the MDRRMO will also be utilized to enforce health protocols, and a one entry, one exit policy will be strictly implemented in all markets to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the city.