DAVAO City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio ordered the adoption of other alternative work arrangements in public and private offices effective March 10, 2021.

Duterte-Carpio signed Executive Order (EO) 10 Series of 2021, known as “An Order For The Adoption Of Other Alternative Work Arrangements In Public And Private Offices Until After The State Of Public Calamity (Presidential Proclamation 1021 Series of 2020) Is Lifted Or A New Memorandum From the Civil Service Commission (CSC) Or The Department of Labor And Employment Is Issued.”

The mayor, in her EO, said several offices have seen a clustering of cases spreading the infection to the household of employees, which is why there is a need to avoid the lockdown of offices to ensure the continued operations of government and businesses.

“There is a need for massive reduction of individuals inside offices and establishments to ensure that overcrowding, mass gathering, and socialization are continuously prohibited,” she said, also citing the need to prevent a close contact scenario for all employees if a co-employee is confirmed positive.

She also said that the other alternative work arrangements will help decongest passengers of public utility vehicles throughout the day to lessen the risk of transmission.

EO 10 Series of 2021 states that the following alternative work arrangements can be implemented (as per CSC M 10, series of 2020):

A. Skeletal workforce -- the maximum number of individuals that can occupy an office with not less than two meters distancing people;

B. Work-from-home;

C. Staggered working hours

Another option is the Other Alternative Work Arrangements (OAWA) or the combination of the three work arrangements earlier mentioned.

However, all government agencies and instrumentalities, both national and local, are mandated to adopt an OAWA that will fully operationalize their offices with a skeleton workforce inside the offices while others are working from home and the working hours are staggered throughout the day from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The OAWA, according to EO 10, shall apply to all employees, including consultants, job orders, and contracts of services. It shall apply to all offices, including field and district offices. But this arrangement shall not be an excuse for delay in government offices as all offices are mandated to deliver timely and efficient public service while in OAWA.

The order also said, “If an employee or worker’s job is the performance of a specific task, they may be allowed to come in only when they are expected to work and they may be sent home immediately after completing their task. The hours at home shall be counted as worked hours provided that they are able to deliver their tasks correct and complete. No person is allowed to loiter in offices.”

All heads of offices are also directed to ensure that the OAWA will comply with a 40-hour workweek requirement of employees and other workers.

Meanwhile, private offices, establishments, organizations, and institutions are strongly encouraged to adopt the OAWA, notwithstanding the Inter-Agency Task Force and Department of Trade and Industry orders on operational capacity.

But the EO also mandates that “private offices and establishments who voluntarily adopt the OAWA scheme should not make it an excuse to reduce workdays for ‘no work-no pay’ personnel. The OAWA assumes continuity of work and pays in different work arrangements.” (PR)