UNVACCINATED employees of both the government and private establishments have more expenses to expect this coming month.
Vaccine-eligible but unvaccinated employees working on-site in the city are now required to undergo COVID-19 testing at least once every two weeks, paid for out of their own pockets.
Under Executive Order (EO) 159-2021, in compliance with the national Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID), stipulates mandatory testing for employees who can receive jabs but remain unvaccinated for any reason.
Both reverse transcriptase – polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests and the cheaper antigen tests are valid under the EO, and are required at least once every two weeks until the employee receives their first vaccine dose.
Mandatory testing will also be required of employees who receive their first dose of a two-dose vaccine but fail to avail of their second dose within the appropriate timeframe for the brand received.
Workers who are unvaccinated due to ineligibility to receive the vaccine must procure medical certifications from the City Health Services Office (CHSO) to be exempted from the mandatory bimonthly testing, but must undergo one test per quarter of the year.
Establishments and institutions that will fail to comply will be immediately reported to the Dept. of Labor and Employment, Dept. of Interior and Local Government, Civil Service Commission or other applicable departments directly supervising the offices concerned.
