The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) decided to cancel all of its environmental events this March due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
The decision was made to protect the people from local transmission of COVID-19, according to city and provincial governments of Iloilo.
“We have to obey the rules and protect ourselves from this dreaded virus that is now gripping the world with fear. It is necessary for us to cancel our scheduled events for the month as protecting life is more important right now,” regional executive director Francisco E. Milla, Jr. of DENR Region 6 was quoted in a report.
Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas and Iloilo Governor Arthur R. Defensor, Jr. both issued an Executive Order, which states certain travel restrictions, school suspension, discouragement of mass gathering, as well as observance of social distancing and community quarantine procedures.
DENR-6 management provided alcohol and sanitizer for use of all its employees as part of its preventive measures, including suspension of the holding of flag rites, use of biometrics, and closure of the canteen for two weeks until Apr. 14. Personnel are also recommended not to receive personal visitors or bring family members in the office.
DENR-6 also enforced a four-day work scheme in compliance to Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 2020-02 signed by DENR Secretary Roy A. Cimatu, which provides for the alternate working arrangements to ensure safety of the personnel while continuing to deliver essential services of the department amid the COVID-19 threat.
