For two days: City Hall to close for disinfection

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Hall will be closed for two days to give way for disinfection.

This, after a number of Cebu City government employees tested positive for COVID-19.

Lawyer Floro Casas Jr., city administrator, said that the City Hall be closed today and tomorrow.

“I-disinfect gyud ang tanan offices sa city hall, sulod, og gawas sa city hall. Nakit-an man gyud nato na daghan-daghan na ang mga nag-positive nato sa city hall,” said Casas.

He added that Mayor Edgardo Labella has ordered for the disinfection which would include all offices in the city hall and also the satellite offices.

“Tungod kay we are entertaining so many clients a day, I think there really is a need to disinfect the entire building,” said Casas.

A physical rearrangement of the offices was also recommended to further promote physical distancing.

Casas said that the Cebu City Command Center (C4) will still be open to accommodate since the Cebu City COVID-19 Inter-Agency Task Force is at work 24/7.

He added that those field officers such as the City Traffic Operations Management (CITOM) personnel will still be working.

The City Hall is currently implementing alternative work arrangements that include work from home and skeletal working force.

“Nag-implement ta karon og skeletal working force so daghan sa atong empleyado magtrabaho gikan sa ilang panimalay at least ma-limit lang ang nagtrabaho diri ug ma-limit lang ang ilang exposure,” said Casas.

He added that Labella has also ordered to supply all the offices with face mask and vitamin C.

As of July 1, about 69 Cebu City Hall employees have already tested positive for the virus. Cebu City Legal Officer Rey Gealon said all afflicted were frontline workers - 12 from the Cebu City Health Department; 36 barangay health workers; 19 from the ambulance services; and one from the Department of Public Services.  GAN (FREEMAN)