MANILA – National Treasurer Rosalia de Leon on Thursday said the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) is ready and capable of conducting remote access for critical operations even if its offices will be closed temporarily to make way for disinfection of premises amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
A Viber message shared by Department of Finance (DOF) Secretary Carlos Dominguez III to journalists Thursday indicated de Leon as saying that work in the BTr office in Intramuros, Manila will be suspended on Friday following the Finance chief’s directive for all DOF-attached agencies to thoroughly disinfect all their premises this weekend.
“Everything is in place for remote access for critical operations like auction, payments, and investments. Have assigned rotating skeletal force in case of prolonged lockdown,” she said.
De Leon also said she has coordinated with the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation (PSALM) “for temporary war room and another one in our Pampanga regional office is being readied.”
“Cash flow is more than adequate,” she added.
Meanwhile, Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Ray Leonardo Guerrero, in a message shared by Dominguez, cited reports from district collectors that there are no pending shipments of face masks in any of their ports.
Guerrero said he has also issued a statement saying the BOC has been expediting the processing of shipments of face masks and other emergency supplies.
“We will also be disinfecting our offices this weekend, Sir,” he told Dominguez.
The head office of the Social Security System (SSS), another DOF-attached agency located along East Avenue in Quezon City and its branch in Makati City, will also be closed on Friday following the directive.
“IT (information technology) will be working and some skeletal for the branch support -- with your permission,” SSS President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Aurora Ignacio said. “Other NCR (National Capital Region) branches are also asking since they are exposed. Am looking at case to case (basis), Sir.” (PNA)
