This is in response to Presidential Proclamation No. 922, declaring a State of Public Health Emergency, Code Red Sublevel-2 in the Philippines, and the Presidential Proclamation No. 929 declaring the country under a state of calamity.

Governor Solon said the main objective of the said order is “to protect and ensure the safety of the personnel of the provincial government of Sarangani against the threat of COVID-19.”

Thus, “assigning a limited number of personnel to act as skeletal force appropriate for the different offices” will be done, including the “allowing of employees to work from home” to limit their possible exposure to COVID-19.

Solon said the order shall cover all departments or offices and employees, except the provincial jail, provincial security group, all province-run hospitals, PDRRMO, PGSO electricians, ASF and COVID-19 checkpoints personnel, and all health workers mandated to execute programs against COVID-19.

In Section 4 of the AO, implementing mechanisms as to how the arrangements will be done in each department and office, is discussed.

According to Solon, “offices are given discretion to devise their own mechanism deemed practical and applicable to effectively implement the alternative work arrangements.”

Also, the departments are directed “to submit the list and schedule of employees who are required to report as skeletal workforce,” while all employees who are allowed to work at home shall be given “defined targets and deliverables with timelines, and shall submit written accomplishment reports correspondingly.”

Solon also imposed the departments and offices “must discharge their mandated functions from Monday to Friday to ensure that the delivery of public services is not prejudiced.” (Jori Mae Samillano/SARANGANI PROVINCIAL INFORMATION