With the city of Metro Manila being paced under Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ), the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) has issued a special order authorizing a number of employees to report for work from May 18 to 22, 2020. This is in view of the need to deliver essential services in MGB.

Last week, President Rodrigo Duterte announced the new quarantine status of regions, provinces, and cities to be imposed on May 16. The areas of Metro Manila, Laguna, and Cebu City were listed under MECQ, which permits those cities to partially open some sectors. 

The order is pursuant to Section 3 of the Omnibus Guidelines on the Implementation of Community Quarantine in the Philippines which provides the guidelines for areas placed under MECQ, and also aligned with the Civil Service Commission Memorandum Circular No. 10, series of 2020 dated May 7, 2020, which provides the revised interim guidelines for alternative work arrangements and support mechanisms for workers in the government during the period of State of National Emergency caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

It is guaranteed that MGB ensures its utmost observation of physical distancing, regular disinfection, and the wearing of personal protective equipment, among others to certify the wellbeing of its employees.

By: Mineral Economics, Information and Publication Division