Good health among the employees of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) must always be the priority in order to implement successfully all its programs and projects despite the limitations brought about by the pandemic.

This was stressed by DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu saying that the overall health of the employees is his paramount priority.

“Though our country is gradually recovering from the pandemic, we will continue to take care of our main asset in the Department – our human resource who face an invisible enemy every time they report for work to perform their duties,” Cimatu said during the distribution of COVID-19 health kits to DENR employees on Nov. 19.

The activity, which was held at the DENR Central Office, aimed to safeguard the health and well-being of its workforce.

Through the DENR’s Human Resource Development Service (HRDS) Health and Wellness Unit led by Undersecretary for Legal, Administration, Human Resources and Legislative Affairs Ernesto D. Adobo Jr., some 1,670 COVID-19 health kits were distributed to officials, permanent and contract of service employees, including those from the Pasig River Coordinating Management Office, an office under the DENR.

The security and janitorial personnel were also given health kits.

Each COVID-19 health kit contains vitamins, Paracetamol tablets, a bottle of mouthwash and a digital thermometer.

According to DENR-HRDS Director Ric G. Enriquez, the health and wellness program prioritizes preventive measures to keep employees from being infected or spreading the virus.

“We see to it that this program helps in the protection, prevention, detection, and even immunization. We believe that if our employees are physically as well as mentally healthy, they will surely be effective and productive in their office functions,” said Enriquez.

The distribution, which is the third for the year, also supports the DENR’s Padayon program which takes on a holistic approach to COVID-19 response through the “Four Es” strategy framework: Educate, Equip, Emerge triumphant, and Express.

DENR Strategic Communication Initiatives Service Director Hiro V. Masuda, who initiated Padayon, said the distribution is an “equip strategy” to provide employees the needed interventions to combat COVID-19 and ensure service continuity in the midst of the pandemic.

In partnership with its stakeholders, the DENR has also undertaken COVID-19 and flu vaccinations, distribution of face masks and face shields, and swab testing.

Enriquez also bared that the DENR is one of the first government agencies that started the vaccination of its employees in May 2021.

As of Oct. 31, 2021, data from the Health and Wellness Unit showed that 90.36 percent or 1,501 out of 1,661 employees in the DENR Central Office have been vaccinated.

The inoculation was done through the DENR, Quezon City government, the respective local government units of the employees, and other health facilities.

Meanwhile, COVID-19 infection in DENR offices nationwide including the DENR Central Office, all regional offices, line bureaus, staff bureaus and attached agencies was recorded at 1,455 with 1,210 recoveries, 218 active cases and 27 deaths as of November 24.

The HRDS is tasked to monitor and report updates on the status of COVID-19 infection in DENR offices nationwide pursuant to DENR Special Order No. 2020-233.