1. DepEd Secretary Leonor M. Magtolis issued Memorandum No. 054, s. 2020 on May 29, 2020 titled: Reiteration of Advisory on Work Arrangements in the Department of Education in Light of Recent Developments in the COVID-19 Situation. In the said memorandum, DepEd declared that the status quo on work arrangements for officials, teaching and nonteaching personnel in all its offices, units and schools, pursuant to DepEd Memorandum No. 043, s. 2020, and OM-OSEC-2020-001, is extended until completion of Executive Review of the proposed comprehensive guidelines submitted by the DepEd Task Force COVID-19. A copy of the said memorandum is attached for reference.
2. The memorandum also stated that all teachers in DepEd schools nationwide shall work from home from June 1 to 5, 2020, except those specifically authorized by the Regional Directors to form part of the skeleton workforce who will render work in school, subject to observance of COVID-19 health and safety precautions. To monitor the attendance of teachers while working from home, the school heads are directed to device a system that would virtually (online or other non-face to face modalities) monitor and check their attendance since they are already required to render service beginning June 01, 2020 as per DepEd Order No. No. 007, s. 2020 titled: School Calendar and Activities for School Year 2020-2021. During this period, the teachers may be required to attend online orientation and training activities on the utilization of the distance learning delivery modalities, prepare instructional materials, and plan the organization of classes in consideration of the learning delivery modalities to be employed.
3. In relation to the status quo order, the framework provided in DepEd Memorandum No. 043, s. 2020 (Guidelines on the Alternative Work Arrangements in the Department of Education in Light of the COVID-19 Stringent Social Distancing Measures) and the operational guidance under Office Memorandum OM-SEC-2020-001 (Authorization of Office and Field Work for Identified Critical Tasks in Areas Covered by the Enhanced Community Quarantine) remains applicable to the operations of the Division Office and the schools.
4. The parameters set forth in DepEd Memorandum No. 43, s. 2020 should still be observed in the alternative work arrangement to be adopted by the heads of offices in the Department. In the case of our Division, telecommuting remains the alternative work arrangement of personnel who will not form part of the office-assigned officials or personnel based on the office workweek plan (see Division Memorandum No. 59, s. 2020). The physical presence of personnel performing critical services and functions in the Division may still be required subject to the provisions and conditions set forth in DepEd Office Memorandum OO-OSEC-2020-00 (see Division Memorandum No. 62, s. 2020).
5. However, as to personnel assigned in the Division Office and schools who are receiving their salaries through the Local Government of Dasmariñas City (Local School Board), physical reporting for work will be required beginning June 01, 2020 since the Local Government of Dasmariñas is already in full operation and is requiring the submission of daily attendance of their personnel.
6. The relevant provisions of Office Order No. 04 dated May 13, 2020 (Adoption of Work-From-Home and Skeletal Workforce as Alternative Work Arrangements in the City Schools Division of Dasmariñas and Guidelines on Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions to Mitigate and Suppress the Spread of COVID-19) remains applicable provided that only those personnel performing critical services and functions should be required to physically report for work. The non-pharmaceutical interventions on personal and environmental hygiene as defined and enumerated in the office order should be observed at all times in the premises of the Division Office and schools.
7. All officials and personnel are reminded to submit their Weekly Work Plan and Work Accomplishment which shall serve as proof of their attendance. Those who will fail to submit their weekly work accomplishment may be considered absent subject to the observance of due process. Compliance with the said requirement will also be reported to the Civil Service Commission.
8. DepEd Memorandum No. 054 also provides a reminder to the field that the first two weeks of enrollment shall completely be remote enrollment where there will be absolutely no face-to-face per item V of the Guidelines on Enrollment for School Year 2020-2021 in the context of the Public Health Emergency due to COVID-19 under DepEd Order No. 008, s. 2020.
9. Immediate dissemination of this memorandum is desired.
