Last October 5, 2020, the UP College of Nursing organized a webinar on workplace response to COVID-19 for the safety officers of the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC). A total of 115 safety officers, representatives, and employees from the central office and regional offices of PRC attended the webinar that was also graced by Hon. Glenda Arquiza of the PRC Board of Nursing.

The webinar aimed to explain how COVID-19 can be transmitted, assess the risk for exposure while in the workplace, describe preventive measures that can be done at the workplace, and discuss issues that surround health and safety of employees in relation to COVID-19.

Dr. Regina P. Berba, Chair of the Philippine General Hospital Infection Control Unit and Head of the Infectious Disease Section of The Medical City, was the speaker for the event. She discussed major aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic: diagnosis, testing, and management. She tailored fit the lecture to the learning needs of PRC, as she elucidated on workplace contact tracing, quarantine, and return-to-work guidelines. She also shared her experiences on how she and the hospital infection control unit kept the employees safe in PGH and UP Manila, including the challenges they faced.
Commissioner Jose Cueto of the PRC explained that the agency requested UPCN and PGH to organize a webinar for their safety officers and employees to improve their compliance with the safety protocols in order to prevent cases of infection and transmission of COVID-19 among their employees.

UP Manila Chancellor Carmencita Padilla said that it was an honor and privilege for UP Manila through the College of Nursing to be part of the PRC activity in promoting and ensuring workplace health and safety during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to her, as the premiere health university, UP Manila is at the disposal of the Filipino people to help them respond to their health needs at every opportunity. She said no institution can fight COVID by itself and the key is collaboration and solidarity with other institutions. 

On behalf of the PRC employees, Mr. Reynaldo Cristobal shared their practices in PRC on COVID-19 prevention and response. 

The webinar was organized by a committee under the UPCN Continuing Education and Community Extension Services Program composed of Asst Prof. Josephine Cariaso (Head), Asst Prof. Jesusa Pagsibigan, Asst Prof. Alyssa Jenny Tupaz, and Asst Prof. Jo Leah Flores.

Alyssa Jenny Tupaz | Published in Healthscape Special COVID-19 Issue No. 19 (15 November 2020)