CESB Opinion Regarding Family/Home Visit Privilege as Provided for in CESB Resolution No. 815, s. 2009

December 12, 2011 BLGF MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 021-11 TO : All Central and Regional Directors of this Bureau SUBJECT : CESB Opinion Regarding Family/Home Visit Privilege as Provided for in CESB Resolution No. 815, s. 2009 Attached is a copy of CESB Opinion dated November 15, 2011, regarding the letter of Ms. Carmelane G. Tugas, OIC-Regional Director of BLGF-Region VII concerning the disallowance by the Commission on Audit (COA) Region VII, of her claim for Travel Expenses in relation to CESB Resolution No. 815, s. 2009 on Family/Home Visit Privilege. The Central and Regional Directors are hereby instructed to take note of the above. Be guided accordingly. (SGD.) ATTY. FLOSIE F. FANLO-TAYAG Deputy Executive Director For Administration ATTACHMENT Republic of the Philippines CAREER EXECUTIVE SERVICE BOARD 15 November 2011 MS. MA. PRESENTACION R. MONTESA, CESO III Executive Director Bureau of Local Government Finance Department of Finance 8th Floor EDPC Building, BSP Complex Roxas Boulevard, Manila 1004 Dear Executive Director Montesa : Greetings from the Career Executive Service Board (CESB)! This is to acknowledge, among others, your letter received by our Office on 10 November 2011 regarding the letter of Ms. Carmelane G. Tugas, OIC-Regional Director, Bureau of Local Government Finance, Region VII, Cebu City concerning the disallowance by the Commission on Audit (COA), Regional Office VII, Cebu City of her claim for Travel Expenses relative to her availment of the Family/Home Visit Privilege as provided for in CESB Resolution No. 815, s. 2009. DcTSHa It is informed that the Board has been trying to schedule a meeting with the Chairperson of the COA, Hon. Ma. Gracia M. Pulido-Tan, to facilitate an expeditious resolution of this matter and so as not to prejudice incumbents of CES positions whose availment of the said privilege have been suspended and/or disallowed. As of this writing, the Office of Honorable Chairperson has tentatively confirmed to have a meeting with us on 28 November 2011. Be that as it may, may we point your attention to paragraph 5d, Article IV, Part III of the Integrated Reorganization Plan (IRP) , as amended, where it is provided that: "5. The Board shall promulgate rules, standards and procedures on the selection, classification, compensation and career development of members of the Career Executive Service. The Board shall set up the organization and operation of the Service in accordance with the following guidelines: a. . . . b. . . . c. . . . d. Salaries. Members of the Career Executive Service shall be compensated according to rank and shall be provided with attractive salaries, fringe benefits and reasonable allowances . The employing agency shall provide the funds to pay the salary, fringe benefits and allowances of the career executive assigned to it." The above provision served as the legal basis for the issuance by the Board of CESB Resolution No. 815, s. 2009. The privilege entitles incumbents of CES positions to a monthly visit of not more than (2) working days inclusive of travel time from work station to residence and vice versa. Only actual transportation expenses shall be allowed/charged against the MOOE of the office where the officers are assigned, subject to availability of funds. It is worthy to note that since incumbents of CES positions are bound by the mobility principle as provided for in Article IV, Part III of the Integrated Reorganization Plan (IRP), as approved by Presidential Decree No. 1, assignment to work stations away from their homes and families is expected during their tenure. As a complementary policy measure to this principle of mobility, the Family/Home Visit Privilege was instituted. It is in line with the government's thrust of promoting the values of professionalism and humanism in the bureaucracy, as it aims to soften the impact of displacement of an affected official as a result of his/her being assigned in a work station away from his/her domicile and family. Prior to the conceptualization and Board's approval of the grant of Family/Home Visit, our office sought the assistance of both the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and Commission on Audit (COA) on its legality. In these consultation meetings, DBM Undersecretary Mario Relampagos supported the program and said that any issuance coming from the CES Board can provide the legal basis. Regretfully, our efforts for an audience with the COA have been less fruitful. Our last letter, dated 23 September 2009 addressed to former COA Chairperson, Hon. Reynaldo A. Villar , has been received by their Office on 25 September 2009, but the same remained unacted. IDcHCS Hence, since we have not heard nor received any comment from that Office regarding the legality of CESB Resolution No. 815, we presumed, pursuant to our prevailing laws, that that office had no objections to the passage and implementation of such privilege. However, since the implementation of the grant of Family/Home Visit Privilege early in 2010, the same has been challenged by COA Auditors assigned to the regional offices of various agencies of the government, particularly regions VI and VII, making its implementation difficult and resulting to demoralization of affected officials. It is in this regard that we are asking for your patience and indulgence as we try to resolve this matter with the pertinent offices/agencies of the bureaucracy. Thank you and warm regards. Very truly yours, (SGD.) MA. ANTHONETTE V. ALLONES, CESO I Executive Director