HEALTH PROTOCOL. Undated photo shows bank clients observing physical distancing while lining up to withdraw money from an automated teller machine at the Philippine National Bank in Minglanilla, Cebu. The Cebu Bankers Club on Friday (Sept. 18, 2020) said banks in Cebu are safe from Covid-19 with measures put in place to ensure the safety of personnel and clients. (PNA photo by John Rey Saavedra)
CEBU CITY – The Cebu Bankers Club (CBC) on Friday assured the public that local banks in Cebu remain safe from coronavirus disease (Covid-19) as they fully adhere to health protocols while providing essential financial services to the clients.
Romeo Comabig, president of CBC, said banks have placed various health measures to control the spread of the coronavirus.
Bank personnel and clients are required to wear face masks and face shields while inside the branch. Body temperatures are also checked before entering the branch and logbook is placed for contact tracing.
The banks are also required to put alcohol and hand sanitizers at the entrance and strategic locations in the lobby.
“We also encourage our clients to avail of the online banking services their respective banks are offering. This will not only protect them from the risk of infection but will give them ease and convenience while banking from home or office,” Comabig said in a statement.
He said banks also install transparent plastic or acrylic barriers to separate clients and bank personnel and they limit the number of clients allowed inside the branch to observe social distancing.
The banks observe staggered lunch breaks for branch personnel and communal food items are not allowed, he said.
Bank personnel are not allowed to cross-over to other branches to mitigate the spread of infection, however, if the branch is compromised, the branch undergoes deep disinfection while the exposed personnel will be advised for immediate test and self-quarantine.
Comabig assured the public that "when a branch is open for service, all health measures are in place, taking into consideration the health and safety of our clients as our primordial concern".
“Although there were reported cases of Covid-19 transmissions in some of our member banks, these were all isolated cases and the respective bank management had done immediate actions by disinfecting these premises and observing lockdown for several days in compliance with the standard health protocol for the safety of the banking community,” he added. (PNA)
