Immigration offices in NCR to operate on shorter hours during ECQ

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) will implement shorter office hours once the National Capital Region (NCR) is under an enhanced community quarantine to address the threat of the highly contagious Delta variant of the coronavirus.

In an advisory on Tuesday, Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said BI offices should operate from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. instead of 5 p.m., starting August 6. The ECQ is expected to run until August 20.

They should also maintain a skeleton workforce of at least 30% but not more than 50% of their operational capacity.

BI employees and clients who are more than 60 years old, pregnant, and with comorbidity and immunodeficiency were advised to stay home.

The latest restrictions also banned dine-in services for customers of canteens and food kiosks at the BI main building in Intramuros, Manila.

The agency said the public could still transact at the bureau by applying for slots through its online appointment system.

“We will remain strict in seeing to it that our employees and clients follow the minimum health protocols such as the wearing of face mask and face shield and observing social distancing. Those who do not observe these protocols will be sent home,” Morente said.

DOJ

At the Department of Justice, Secretary Menardo Guevarra said they are still waiting for instructions from the Office of the President.

“If no directive is issued, I will take it to mean that all DOJ personnel will work from home during the ECQ in the NCR, except a skeleton staff to man the frontline to receive incoming documents. The NPS (National Prosecution Service) will do e-inquests,” he said. -MDM, GMA News