By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The provincial government of Negros Occidental will soon go back to its normal five-day workweek.

The province adopted a four-day workweek for over a month already due to a spike in coronavirus disease 2019, or COVID-19, cases among its employees.

Provincial administrator, Atty. Rayfrando Diaz, said Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson will issue an executive order on returning to the normal work days as COVID-19 cases in the province continue to decline, and after the Department of Health (DOH) classified Negros Occidental as one of the “low risk” areas.

Although most of the capitol employees who had previously tested positive for COVID-19 have already recovered, Diaz revealed that they have recorded two new positive cases among their employees on Tuesday, May 25.

Meanwhile, in preparation for the eventual return to the five-day workweek, Diaz said measures will be undertaken in order to protect the employees and the clients, such as setting up desks outside the air conditioned offices.

Several capitol employees will also take up office in non-air conditioned areas of the building such as the third floor of the multi-purpose building’s alfresco area./DGB, WDJ