San Fernando, La Union, May 17, 2020 – With the declaration of extended General Community Quarantine brought about by the COVID 19 pandemic, the Department of Education Regional Office 1 (DepEd RO1) adapts the Alternative Work Arrangement (AWA) to ensure continuous delivery of services to the stakeholders.

As stated in the Office Memorandum released on May 15, the Regional Office adopts a combination of the Work from Home (WFH) and Skeleton Work Force (SWF) scheme in which the employees shall be grouped into two (Group A and B) and shall report on alternate weekly basis.

This AWA is in accordance with the Memorandum Circular No. 10, s. 2020 of the Civil Service Commission and DepEd Memorandum No. 52, s. 2020.

The employees under the SWF or those who will be reporting in the Office shall strictly observe the Safety Health protocols set by the Department of Health and the National Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of  Emerging Infectious Diseases such as wearing of face masks, taking of body temperature, frequent hand washing, and social distancing.

Employees under the WFH scheme ensures availability online within the regular working hours.

The Regional Office also restructured the workplace under the new normal setting  and health reminders are also posted for the safety of the employees and the clients as well.

Regular disinfection of the Offices including the service vehicles was done upon the declaration of the Enhanced Community Quarantine in Luzon last March 16. This was spearheaded by the Education Support Services Division and the General Services Unit. (Abigail A. Cabilin, ORD-PAU/ Photo credit: Rogelio Yapit, Records Section and Betty N. Cuyahon, GSU)