The Department of Health (DOH) is in favor of retaining the work-from-home arrangement amid the rising risks of COVID-19 in the country, according to Health officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire.

In a media briefing on Friday, Sept. 16, Vergeire said several international studies have already proven that many have benefited from the work-from-home setup.

"Hindi lamang benepisyo ng mga businesses or employers, kundi benepisyo individually. Lumalabas sa mga pag-aaral ngayon na itong work-from-home arrangement have helped individuals na magkaroon ng balanse mentally, physically, and they have more drive to work," she explained.

Vergeire made the statement following the issuance of the Department of Finance (DOF) on the extension of hybrid work or 70% percent onsite and 30% work-from-home set-up for all Information Technology and Business Process Management (IT-BPM)

The Health undersecretary said the arrangement also helps prevent individuals from contracting the COVID-19 virus and other diseases.

"We know the more interaction, the more transmission of diseases," Vergeire said.

"Kung kaya naman magtrabaho sa bahay ang ating mga employees at pinapayagan naman at ito ay nakakapag produce ng same output as what they have when they are physically present, the DOH is all for this," she added.

Vergeire also disclosed in the media briefing that the National Capital Region (NCR) is now at moderate risk for COVID-19 with a positivity rate of 16.4 percent.

But she noted that the hospital utilization rate in NCR remained low with 39 percent COVID-19 bedwards and 33 percent intensive care unit (ICU) beds.

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. recently signed proclamation no. 57 that declared the extension of the state of calamity due to COVID-19 in the country until December this year.