OPA adopts “Skeletal Force Manpower” to decongest capitol

The Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) like any other offices in the Provincial Government of Bohol (PGBh) has implemented the “Skeletal Force Manpower” work arrangement.
Assistant Provincial Agriculturist Dr. Larry M. Pamugas explained that this work arrangement were the revision of what he has first requested Governor Art C. Yap last March 16, 2020 for a flexible work setup in the OPA. This is intended as an alternative to further lessen the number of employees reporting to work in the new capitol which means lesser number of people to monitor and lesser chances of virus transmission.
Pamugas further explained that this scheme has been implemented after being approved by Provincial Administrator Atty. Kathyrin Fe D. Pioquinto by authority of the governor but must observe and respect the normal office hours at the office to comply with the Civil Service Commission directive for the 40-hour work week.
ALTERNATIVE WORK ASSIGNMENTS
The approved alternative work assignments and guidelines in the homes implemented at the OPA state to allow all office-based employees including contractual and job order workers to work at home and perform agriculture and fishery-related tasks that may be assigned subject to further internal office guidelines such as but not limited to:
The field employees assigned in facilities nurseries and hatcheries shall remain dispensing or rendering their work during normal working hours subject to the social distancing measures that health experts suggests;
Bagging of soil media for seedlings at 200 bag per day, mangroves or fruit tree growing at a minimum of 10 trees a day, vegetable growing at a minimum of 20 hills per day either in containers or in plots, encoding of agriculture and fishery database, drafting of different OPA Information Education Communication (IEC) materials, technical staff will focus their job in their respective target areas, any office target that may be performed at home authorized by the immediate supervision;
All OPA employees working at home and facilities shall be obliged to keep their phone lines open for office actionable matters needing immediate attention; allow pregnant women and other employees with health concerns to strictly adopt the work at home performing whichever activity is applicable subject however to supervision of their immediate supervisor.
SKELETAL FORCE
The skeletal force or manpower assigned at the office in rotation basis shall be tasked to receive communications and tend to clients needing assistance. However, matters needing immediate action by specific personnel authorized to work from home shall be immediately communicated to such person and his/her immediate supervision for appropriate action, he said.
Pamugas said that an employee who has an important activity outside of these guidelines shall seek approval from his/her immediate supervisor prior to the performance of such.
The Assistant Provincial Agriculturist in the provincial government clarified that while these alternative work assignments may have adverse effect to our precious and official primary work targets and assignments, we also recognize that this COVID 19 crisis needs the most effective measures to resolve it altogether.
This means that we have to explore all our options to stop the spread of the virus through any means necessary and through minimizing the number of employees in office spaces, he added.
SUPPLEMENTAL GUIDELINES FOR PREVENTION,
MITIGATION OF COVID-19
Last March 23, 2020, PA Pioquinto by authority of Gov. Yap issued a memorandum to all provincial officials, employees and workers regarding the supplemental guidelines for the prevention and mitigation of the COVID-19 stating to further take necessary steps in minimizing risk or to prevent, contain, and mitigate the possible transmission of the fast-rising horrific COVID-19 in the communities, thus alternative work arrangement in the PGBh is being implemented.
It stated that the Department Head/Head of Office/ Chief of Hospital is directed to organize a scheme that is applicable and customized to the nature of its office services; flexible work schedule of not earlier than 7 a.m. and not later than 7 p.m. is allowed as far as practicable, except those on 24/7 duty; work from home arrangement shall be approved by the department head, head of office and chief of hospital as recommended by the division heads based on applicable and agreed upon work load deliverables.
WORK FROM HOME
In making schedules and priorities in “Work From Home” arrangements, the following would take into consideration: categorized as senior citizen employees (ages 60 and above); pregnant and lactating mothers; employees with the following health circumstances: cancer, diabetes type 1 & 2, chronic lung disease, cardiovascular disease, chronic renal disease, immune-compromised among others; maintain a skeletal staff of not more than 50% daily to decongest the office, maintain social distancing and a mandatory wearing of face mask; temporary suspension in the use of biometric machines in recording employees’ attendance in office retroactive March 16, 2020 until April 30, 2020.
Wearing of office uniforms is optional for employees’ convenience but shall be on appropriate business attire considering the scarcity of means of transportation in going to and from their respective offices wherein many opt to reach their offices by just walking than waiting for a vehicle;
And a Work From Home accomplishment shall be required by the department head, head of office and chief of hospital and concerned employee shall be on call anytime during working days when services so require, otherwise, the privilege accorded to the employees would have been abused to the prejudice of public service.
In the quest that the province of Bohol and the new capitol are free from the spread of virus, Dr. Pamugas always reminded the division heads of OPA to monitor the health of each employee of which anyone who has flu like symptoms (fever, cold, or cough) should not be allowed to report to work and the heads shall be held responsible for any lapse of his directive.
Pamugas emphasized that the normal office operations shall be restored immediately once the situations become normalize and a subsequent proclamation from the office of the governor be issued. (Atoy Cosap)