THE Mandaue City Treasurer’s Office (CTO) will undertake extra precautions during the distribution of financial assistance to senior citizens in December.
This after CTO staff members were placed on home quarantine in April 2020 for coming into contact with two senior citizens who later tested positive for the Covid-19 following the distribution of financial assistance.
Mandaue City Treasurer Regal Oliva said CTO’s 270 personnel will undergo a rapid antibody test before their deployment in December.
All personnel will also wear the mandatory face shield, mask, and gloves, Oliva said.
As for wearing the full personal protective equipment (PPE), Oliva said this will be left at the discretion of the staff.
“The heat from wearing the PPE is incomparable; that is why I told them that at 1 p.m. you rest and then continue after 3 p.m.” said Oliva in a mix of Cebuano and English.
“We are hired and paid by the people to do our job. One of this is to face the perils of the pandemic,” added Oliva.
Oliva promised a faster distribution of the aid this December compared to the last time since the CTO staff already know the houses of the senior citizens.
Since the city’s curfew has been extended to 11 p.m., Oliva said they will also extend the distribution hours till night time depending on the barangay’s location and with the safety of the CTO staff considered.
Oliva also said they will provide one ballpen per senior citizen as additional health measure.
The CTO will also not announce the schedule so that senior citizens will remain in their homes and not go outside to receive the assistance.
Oliva said that the CTO staff will be accompanied by two police officers per team, who will see to it that health protocol is enforced on the field.
After the distribution, Oliva said all CTO personnel will undergo a seven-day home quarantine after which, they will be allowed to return to work if Covid-like symptoms do not manifest. / KFD