Clarification of the Rules on the Wearing of Appropriate Office Attire for Areas under IATF Alert Levels Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic

March 22, 2022

OCA CIRCULAR NO. 62-2022

 

For the information, guidance, and strict compliance of all first and second level courts, appended herein as Annex "A" is the approved Memorandum dated 4 March 2022 of the Committee for Office Uniform for the Supreme Court, the Presidential Electoral Tribunal and the Lower Courts on the Clarification of the Rules on the Wearing of Appropriate Office Attire for Areas under IATF Alert Levels due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Particular attention and observance should be given to the following guidelines, to wit:

(1) STRICT IMPLEMENTATION of the Guidelines on the Wearing of Appropriate Office Attire as provided in Administrative Circular No. 42-2013 in areas placed under Alert Level 1 or are no longer under any IATF Alert Level;

(2) RELAXATION of the Guidelines on the Wearing of Appropriate Office Attire as provided under Administrative Circular No. 42-2013 in areas placed under Alert Level 2 or higher, Provided, that all employees shall wear DECENT and PRESENTABLE ATTIRE while on official duty, subject to the strict observance of the following:

1. Skirts should be at least knee-length (one inch above the knee is allowed).

2. Appropriate footwear shall mean closed formal shoes; however, mules, sling back shoes and peep-toe shoes are allowed.

3. The following are prohibited office attire when performing official functions:

a. Gauzy, transparent, or net-like blouses or shirts;

b. Sando, sleeveless, strapless or spaghetti-strapped blouses, tank top (unless worn as undershirts), blouses with over-plunging necklines;

c. Collarless t-shirts; however, collarless blouses are allowed;

d. Micro-mini skirts, walking shorts, cycling shorts, leggings, tights, jogging pants, and pedal pushers;

e. Sandals and step-ins exposing the toes;

f. Rubber sandals, slippers, and bakya; and

g. Wearing of t-shirt or pins, caps, or any other similar election paraphernalia bearing the names of the candidates or political party except as authorized by the Commission on Elections, pursuant to Joint COMELEC and CSC Circular No. 001, Series of 2016.

4. The sporting of long and unkempt hair, as well as wearing of earrings and other body ornaments by male judges and court personnel, is not allowed.

5. The Identification Card (I.D.) forms part of the official uniform/appropriate office attire. Thus, it must be worn at all times while on official duty, regardless of IATF Alert Levels, and

(3) The foregoing shall be observed by all court employees, except personnel of the (1) Maintenance Division, Office of Administrative Services, (2) Security Division, Office of Administrative Services, (3) Medical and Dental Services, and (4) Philippine Judicial Academy Training Center (PTC), who shall wear the prescribed work attire suited for their respective duties (i.e., cargo pants, scrub suits, PPE, security personnel attire, PTC attire, etc.) regardless of IATF Alert Levels;

(4) For Friday or for last working day of the work week, even if not falling on a Friday, the employees of the Supreme Court, the Presidential Electoral Tribunal, and all trial courts are hereby allowed to wear denim or "maong" pants, rubber shoes, sandals, and step-ins, pursuant to Paragraph IV (B) [B.3] of Administrative Circular No. 42-2013, in relation to Paragraph II of the 6 December 2018 Guidelines on the Wearing of Appropriate Office Attire; Provided, that collarless t-shirts for men shall not be allowed even on Fridays or the last working day of the work week.

(SGD.) RAUL BAUTISTA VILLANUEVACourt Administrator

ANNEX A

Supreme Court Memorandum