Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque on Tuesday, March 16, said the government continues to do its job even after more officials and personnel tested positive for the coronavirus disease.
(OPS / FILE PHOTO)
Roque made the assurance to the public a day after he contracted COVID-19. He is in self-isolation while continuing his duties, such as the scheduled media briefings online.
Aside from the spokesman, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Debold Sinas also tested positive for COVID-19, as well as Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Director General Wilkins Villanueva, among other government personnel.
“At kung mapapansin ninyo, iyong iba’t ibang sangay ng gobyerno ay mayroon din silang mga strategies na pinu-pursue at ito nga po iyong combination ng work-from-home at saka iyong face-to-face pagtatrabaho sa mga opisina ‘no. So hindi naman po nakakabahala, tuluy-tuloy po ang serbisyo ng gobyerno, hindi po iyan mahihinto (If you will notice, different government agencies pursue their own strategies, including a combination of work-from-home and face-to-face in the office. It is not alarming, government services will continue, that will not stop),” he said.
The spokesperson added that there are policies “in place” in government offices since the declaration of the enhanced community quarantine last year.
In Malacañang, they are at a 50 percent work capacity wherein the staff alternates between working from home and doing face-to-face office work.
“So iyan po iyong pamamaraan para masiguro na hindi sabay-sabay na maaapektuhan ang mga taong-gobyerno (So, that’s a way to be sure that government workers will not simultaneously be exposed),” Roque said.