MANILA -- The Bureau of Immigration (BI) announced that its main building and satellite and extension offices in Metro Manila will again operate with skeleton workforces and on shortened working hours when the region is placed under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) on Aug. 6.

In an advisory, Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said the new work scheme is in compliance with President Rodrigo’s directive to place the National Capital Region (NCR) under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) from Aug. 6 to 20.

Morente thus ordered that effective immediately BI offices in NCR shall maintain a skeleton workforce of at least 30 percent but not more than 50 percent of their operational capacity.

He added that beginning Aug. 6, said offices shall begin operating on shortened working hours from 8 am to 4 pm instead of 5 pm, the BI chief added.

Morente also banned dine-in services for customers of canteens and food kiosks at the BI main bldg. in Intramuros, Manila.

BI employees and clients who are more than 60 years of age, pregnant, and with comorbidity and immunodeficiency were advised to stay home.

Nonetheless, the BI chief assured that the bureau will continue to serve the needs of the transacting public even while Metro Manila is under stricter quarantine classifications.

It said BI clients can still transact at the bureau by applying for slots via its online appointment system.

“We will remain strict in seeing to it that our employees and clients follow the minimum health protocols such as the wearing of face mask and face shield and observing social distancing. Those who do not observe these protocols will be sent home,” Morente warned. (BOC)