The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) warned Tuesday, March 16, that all barangays in the country should be open during office hours despite the surging surging cases of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

In an exclusive interview, lawyer Mary Bell Diño, of the DILG Barangay Operations Office, said that shortening the service hours of the barangays should not be the case much more during the pandemic.

“Hindi po dapat ganon (This should not be the case),’’ said Diño.

The reminder was issued after some barangays opted to limit their working hours for fear of their personnel contacting COVID-119 which has soared dramatically in the last few weeks.

A retired government employee complained that the Barangay Quirino 2-B office in the third district of Quezon City was closed when she visited it twice in the afternoon in successive days to raise some personal concerns.

Kagawad Pia Oreta of Barangay Quirino 2-B admitted having opposed the “shortened working hours’’ in her barangay saying that it should remain open to cater to the needs of the public full time being a government service oriented arm.

“Maari kaming consider na front liners kaya dapat regular working hours kami. (We can be considered as front liners that is why we have to serve our full working hours,)’’ Oreta said.

Pressed for comment, Barangay officer-in-charge (OIC) Oscar Reyes admitted having posted in the barangay Facebook page of the four working hours from 8 a.m. to 12 noon from March 15 until March 31 in his office as a precautionary measure against the virus.

When informed of the DILG reminder, Reyes said he will immediately order the resumption of the barangay’s regular working hours.

The barangay’s Facebook post has since been taken down after the interview with Reyes.

Since barangay officials are considered as front liners, Oreta called on the government to provide them with “hazard pays’’ to at least ease their emotional and financial burden as they perform their duties in the community during the pandemic.

Oreta’s sentiment was shared by the elder Diño stressing in October 2020 that the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) list of beneficiaries entitled to hazard pay does not include barangay officials.

Diño pointed out that barangay officials and workers also risk their lives like the police, health workers and other government front liners in rendering public service during the pandemic.