NEGROS Oriental Gov. Manuel 'Chaco' Sagarbarria (seated, second from right) leads an emergency meeting on tropical storm 'Basyang.' (Negros Oriental PIO)
The provincial government of Negros Oriental cancelled work in all government offices on Friday, Feb. 6, due to tropical storm “Basyang.”
Gov. Manuel “Chaco” Sagarbarria, chairman of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC), said this measure will safeguard employees and their families, ensure continuity of essential disaster response services, and mitigate risks posed by adverse weather conditions.
Offices whose functions involve the delivery of basic and health services and preparedness and response to disasters and calamities shall continue their operations and render the necessary services.
All government offices were directed to ensure that skeletal workforce arrangements are in place for essential and emergency services.
Sagarbarria encouraged private business owners, managers, and heads of private offices within the province to also suspend work to safeguard the safety and well-being of their employees, clients, and other stakeholders.
The PDRRMC convened an emergency meeting on Thursday, Feb. 5, at the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Division (LDRRMD) Operations Center in Dumaguete City to discuss preparedness and response measures.
Sagarbarria led the meeting to ensure coordinated actions in the province.
Mayor Greg Gasataya also suspended work in government offices in this highly-urbanized city, and extended the cancellation of classes on all levels on Friday.
Offices rendering basic and health services, disaster response and vital services will remain open.
Schools were encouraged to shift to modular distance learning performance tasks and projects to ensure that learning competencies are met.
Suspension of work in private companies, business establishments, and institutions was left to the discretion of management and administrators.