DOH: “Ang talagang objective is for us not to delay government transactions.”
The Department of Health (DOH) has defended the exemption of government officials and employees from testing and quarantine amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire stressed that the non-testing and quarantine are being imposed so that government transactions will not be delayed.
“This (guideline) has been decided in the IATF. Noong dinesisyonan iyan, ang talagang objective is for us not to delay government transactions,” she said.
“And usually, ‘pag tiningnan naman natin, ‘yung ating mga officials ng government ‘pag pupunta from one place to another, they do not take long: sometimes dalawa, tatlong oras lang at sila’y aalis na rin doon sa puwesto,” the DOH official added.
Meanwhile, the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) earlier gave approval on “unimpeded travel” among government officials and personnel in official business. Those who are working in the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation and Central Bank of the Philippines are also included.
Although government officials and employees are exempted from testing and quarantine, they must observe minimum health standards.
The DOH undersecretary also reminded the local government units who will accept them to adhere with proper screening procedures.
“For government officials, ‘pag may nararamdaman na ho kayo, ‘wag na ho kayong magtrabaho para naman ho hindi tayo makapasok sa isang lugar at makapagkalat tayo ng sakit diyan,” Vergeire said.
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