Question & AnswerQ&A (MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 96)
The main purpose is to prescribe the required on-site workforce in government agencies and instrumentalities under the Alert Level System to balance health considerations and continuous delivery of public services during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Under Alert Level 1, all agencies and instrumentalities of the government shall adhere to 100% on-site workforce.
Alert Level 5 requires a skeleton workforce on-site with the remainder under alternative work arrangements; Alert Level 4 requires at least 40% on-site; Alert Level 3 requires at least 60% on-site; Alert Level 2 requires at least 80% on-site workforce.
Yes, the heads of all agencies and instrumentalities of the executive branch, including GOCCs, may increase the on-site workforce beyond the minimum required, subject to health protocols and approval by department secretaries where applicable.
Any increase in on-site workforce must comply with social distancing requirements and other minimum public health standards.
Department secretaries may require heads of agencies under their control or supervision to implement a larger on-site workforce as necessary for service delivery.
Yes, agencies providing health and emergency frontline services, laboratory and testing services, border control, or other critical services shall require an on-site workforce larger than the minimum necessary to deliver their mandates.
Government officials and employees who are infected or identified as close contacts of COVID-19 cases, asymptomatic employees undergoing quarantine while awaiting swab test results, or those completing prescribed quarantine may be required to adopt work from home arrangements.
While it directly orders the executive branch and GOCCs, it also strongly urges the legislative and judicial branches, independent constitutional commissions and bodies, and local government units to adopt its provisions.
Memorandum Circular No. 96 supersedes Memorandum Circular No. 93 (s. 2021), and repeals or amends inconsistent rules and regulations accordingly.
The Circular took effect immediately upon issuance on February 28, 2022.
Article II, Section 15 of the Philippine Constitution which declares the State’s policy to protect and promote the right to health of the people supports the policy behind this Circular.
The Inter-Agency Task Force’s Resolution No. 146-F (s. 2021) and the President’s Executive Order No. 151 (s. 2021) support the implementation of the Alert Level System.
Yes, government agencies and instrumentalities shall remain fully operational regardless of the alert level where they are located.
The health protocols under Memorandum Circular No. 86 (s. 2021), as amended by MC No. 94 (s. 2022), on compliance with health protocols in the workplace continue to be observed.