|
“NAPOLCOM RO IX Implements Measures
to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19”
It cannot be gainsaid that the year 2020 brought out the worst
and the best in people. The onset of the Corona Virus Disease 19
or COVID-19 in January of this year was met with not much apprehension
due to its flu-like symptoms. But as testimony to the global village
in which we live in, COVID-19 very quickly mushroomed into a global
pandemic, taking its place alongside other pandemics that changed
the course of history, affecting billions upon billions of lives,
snuffing the lives of more a million people to date, and humbling
and crumbling the economies of virtually all nations.
It continues to present an enormous threat that has required unprecedented
levels of concerted intervention on a global scale. As the pandemic
continues to wreak havoc across our country, including the Zamboanga
Peninsula, National Police Commission Regional Office IX has implemented
science- and consultation-based measures compliant with regulatory
standards that are designed to set into place a working environment
that would ensure the unhindered provision of services to its clientele,
while safeguarding both the physical well-being and morale of the
employees against COVID-19.
Prior to the resumption of duty in May 2020, after a two and half-month
enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), health and safety measures
advisories were repeatedly posted in the official Facebook page
of NAPOLCOM IX and that of the Police Regional Office 9 (PRO9) as
well, informing would-be clients that queries and requests for NAPOLCOM
frontline services can be sent thru the use of designated social
media and electronic mail platforms.
At the same time, both the Regional Office in Pagadian City, and
the Satellite Office in Zamboanga City which is being configured
to serve as a virtual second regional office, were being prepared
to ensure the safety of both personnel and clients should the latter
prefer face-to-face transaction. Large and eye-catching Notices
and health protocol posters were placed in conspicuous areas.
Hand wash station and footbath were placed outside the main office
entrance and clients were required to fill out a questionnaire about
their state of health, whereabouts and close contacts prior to visiting
the office. In order to limit the number of clients inside the office,
a canopy was mounted outside just before the main entrance, to serve
as waiting area for other clients. The office procured and equipped
all organic, contractual and on detail personnel with face masks,
face shield, hand gloves, alcohol, and other necessary personal
effects.
In order to enforce proper social distancing, skeleton workforce
was deployed in both the regional and satellite offices which adheres
to the Alternative Work Arrangements (AWAs) prescribed by the Civil
Service Commission (CSC) in its Memorandum Circular No. 10, s. of
2020. The AWA adopted by NAPOLCOM RO IX is reviewed on a monthly
basis, and calibrated as needed, to conform with existing state
of quarantine declaration, protocols and applicable policies of
the CSC, DOH and the IATF, and consideration of employee welfare.
In addition, all personnel who are residents of Zamboanga City but
are reporting at the regional office in Pagadian City have been
reassigned to the Satellite Office in Zamboanga City. Inside the
regional office, floor-to-ceiling wooden and aluminum barriers enclosed
in glass and thick cellophane were installed to physically separate
the regional personnel from the clients. A distance of at least
two (2) meters apart was also implemented per working station while
glass barriers were installed in the tabletops of the employees.
As of October 12, 2020, Zamboanga del Sur has a total of 113 confirmed
cases with 45 active, 67 recoveries and 1 death. Of the 45 active
cases, 20 are residents of Pagadian City. Meanwhile, Zamboanga City
has a total of 1,818 confirmed cases with 491 active, 1,236 recoveries
and 91 deaths.
With these measures, individual vigilance and by the Grace of God,
not a single staff of NAPOLCOM RO IX have come down with COVID-19
infection.
|
