DILG on 7-day lockdown

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of the Interior and Local Government central office in Quezon City was placed on lockdown for a week beginning yesterday after DILG Undersecretary for operations Epimaco Densing III was infected with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

DILG spokesman Jonathan Malaya said operations would not be suspended as employees were ordered to work from home, adding that the agency would still receive and release documents on the ground floor lobby.

“The DILG is a frontline agency in the government’s fight against the pandemic so we cannot stop our operations. Officials will continue to work at our extension offices outside the DILG-Napolcom center or from their homes,” Malaya said.

He said attached agencies of the DILG, including the Philippine National Police, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology and Bureau of Fire Protection would remain operational.

Malaya said they would conduct disinfection of the entire DILG building and contact tracing during the lockdown period.

Visitors and DILG personnel were prohibited from entering the building. In extreme cases where officials and executives need to report to work, they would not be allowed to interact with other offices, according to Malaya.

The lockdown will be lifted on July 13.

Densing confirmed on Saturday that he was infected with COVID-19 and being treated at an undisclosed hospital.

Navotas barangay hall closed

Navotas Mayor Toby Tiangco has placed on lockdown the barangay hall of Northbay Boulevard South in Dagat-Dagatan after five of its personnel contracted COVID-19.

Tiangco also placed the houses within the 50-meter radius of the barangay hall on lockdown until July 18.

The barangay hall will install a satellite desk to be manned by personnel who tested negative for the virus.

Barangay officials would be in charge of delivering relief packs to the affected residents, Tiangco said.