The Presidential Broadcast Staff – Radio Television Malacañang (PBS-RTVM) Manila Office was placed on lockdown beginning July 28, 2020 to August 11, 2020. Said measure was enforced after 2 employees tested positive for COVID-19 RT-PCR testing and 4 employees tested either IgG+ or IgG+ and IgM+ in rapid anti-body testing by the close of July 27, 2020.
As a precautionary measure and while awaiting the results of the confirmatory tests and further contact-tracing activities, no one, except personnel assigned for the Office of the Presidential Spokesperson (OPS) press briefing on Tuesday, 28 July 2020, were allowed to report for work. This was in consideration of the OPS Memorandum dated July 27, 2020 requesting PBS-RTVM to continue providing assistance and/or support for the conduct of press briefings despite the lockdown. In the said memorandum, the OPS assured PBS-RTVM that rapid testing will be given to concerned personnel.
Given the current situation of our personnel being primary contacts to COVID-19 positive cases, PBS-RTVM is following this protocol for Presidential coverages — no negative results yielded, no coverage to be rendered. This is to avoid further and unwarranted transmission of the COVID-19 virus not only among its own personnel but the public as well.
Fifteen (15) personnel from PBS-RTVM reported to the New Executive Building (NEB) at 9:00 AM to finish the set-up and waited for the rapid testing supposed to be provided by the OPS. When there was none, PCOO made coordination with the Presidential Security Group (PSG) for the rapid testing of all 15 personnel. Given the time consumed in coordinating with the PSG and administering of rapid tests plus awaiting the results, the PBS-RTVM personnel got delayed in going back to the NEB for the press briefing.
Meanwhile, a back-up team from the OPS was able to broadcast using the equipment – camera, audio control and microwave feed – prepared by the PBS-RTVM personnel this morning.
