CdeO City, March 23 – Amid the declaration of the country under the state of calamity relative to the COVID-19 outbreak, the agriculture department in Northern Mindanao (DA-10) has implemented workarounds to continue the delivery of its services.

DA-10 has adopted 25 percent skeletal workforce and work-from-home arrangement effective March 23, 2020 until further notice.

Likewise, the agency has tapped technology in the participation of meetings via videoconferencing.

A special meeting was called by DA-Central Office, which was participated in by the agency heads of different regional field offices, including OIC-Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado of DA-10, who is on home quarantine in his hometown after his official travel in Manila on the second week of March.

His mandatory home quarantine is in accordance to DA’s memo guidelines on the prevention and control of COVID-19 in the workplace.

Tackled during the meeting is DA’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Executive Committee initiatives in light of the COVID-19 crisis, ranging from service continuity and precautionary measures in the workplace; Foodlane Pass issuances; and alternative working arrangements.

More so, Dir. Collado has attended the recent 121st full council meeting of the Regional Development Council – X.

Highlights discussed is the health department’s preventive measures against COVID-19; the creation of a special regional committee on the programs and projects towards the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals; and the endorsement of budgets for fiscal year 2021 of state universities and colleges as well as regional line agencies. #