DOLE Batangas joins drive against COVID-19

DOLE Batangas Provincial Office (BPO), led by Dir. Predelma M. Tan, held a COVID-19 Rapid Test for its employees last June 8 and 16 to ensure their well-being and that of its clients.

The said medical procedure to which all DOLE-BPO staff tested negative, is made possible through the assistance of Sen. Ralph Recto and the City Government of Lipa headed by Mayor Eric Africa.

"Napakahalaga ng test na ito para sa aming mga empleyado at para sa aming mga kliyente. Masaya kami na negative ang results ng lahat. Mas panatag ang loob namin habang kami'y naglilingkod at mas mapapanatag ang loob ng mga pumupunta dito sa aming opisina," Dir. Tan said.

She added that aside from DOLE-BPO's facilitation of COVID-19 rapid test for its employees, DOLE-BPO has also adhered to other directives of DOLE-Region IV-A and of the Inter-Agency Task Force Against COVID-19. DOLE-BPO checks the temperature of its walk-in clients; asks them to accomplish the health checklist, and; allows inside only those that have body temperatures lower than 37.5 degree Celsius. It also positioned waiting-area chairs apart from each other to ensure social distancing.

"Mayroong disinfecting footbath and alcohol sa may pinto. May plastic divider that separates the staff from the clients. Limitado lang rin ang tao na pinapapasok ng sabay," Dir. Tan added.

Among others, she encouraged online submission of documents and highlighted that there are staff assigned each day to answer queries via telephone and cellphone. DOLE-BPO, she continued, is doing its best to ensure, amidst this pandemic, the continuity of quality service to its employer and employee clients.

COVID-19 is an infectious disease first detected in Wuhan, China in 2019. To prevent its spread, the Philippine government has issued restrictions on the movement of people. As of this writing, Batangas Province is still under General Community Quarantine.