By Civ Alonzo-Cruz
The Civil Service Commission (CSC) advised government employees on Thursday (Dec.9) to keep year end and holiday festivities safe and simple by holding virtual parties as the nation continues to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic.
CSC Chairperson Alicia dela Rosa-Bala reminded government employees of the threats of COVID-19 due to the emergence of the Omicron variant.
While physical gatherings may be allowed, it is still subject to current and applicable guidelines issued by the IATF and the local government.
The CSC chief said that physical gatherings still pose a huge risk and may even affect public service delivery if employees get infected by COVID-19 at the same time.
“Virtual celebrations, on the other hand, are much safer and allow agencies to hold a simultaneous gathering for all their employees across the regions. It just requires a little more creativity to make it engaging and enjoyable even without face-to-face interaction,” Bala said.
CSC Chief Bala also reminded agencies to make sure that there will be no disruption in public services when they hold such gatherings.
“Offices may opt to conduct these activities outside office hours or ensure adequate skeletal workforce to attend to their clients and other urgent matters during official business hours,” she added.
Earlier this weekend, the Department of Health (DOH) and the Philippine Genome Center (PGC) also advised the public to hold Christmas celebrations virtually and practice health protocols amid the threat of the Omicron variant.
The government has started releasing social media cards and videos on how to conduct safe Christmas celebrations. -rir
