Malacañang has ordered executive branch offices in Metro Manila to remain fully operational but with reduced on-site capacity during the two-week enhanced community quarantine period this month.

Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea issued Memorandum Circular 87 allowing heads of agencies in the National Capital Region to reduce on-site work capacity to skeleton workforce from August 6 to 20.

 “To ensure the continuity of government service, the skeleton workforce shall not be less than 20% on-site capacity at any given time, with the remainder being under work-from-home arrangements,” the memorandum said.

The directive also covers government-owned and –controlled corporations. Agencies providing health and emergency frontline services, laboratory and testing services, border control, and other critical services shall be allowed to operate on full on-site capacity.

During this period, Medialdea directed affected government offices to ensure that they will remain fully operational.

“During the period of 06 to 20 August 2021, government agencies and instrumentalities in the NCR shall remain fully operational even as the region is placed under ECQ, subject to the on-site capacity and work-from-home arrangements authorized herein,” he added.

The executive secretary directed heads of agencies to submit to the department head the specific percentage of skeleton workforce and work arrangements to ensure the continuing operation of their offices before August 6.

The NCR will undergo a two-week ECQ period from August 6 to 20 amid the threat of the Delta variant of the coronavirus and rising COVID-19 infections.