Sabbatical Leave Program in the Career Executive Service (CES)

November 18, 1994 REVENUE MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 16-94 SUBJECT : Sabbatical Leave Program in the Career Executive Service (CES) TO : All Revenue Officials and Employees and Others Concerned For the information and guidance of all revenue officials and employees, quoted hereunder is Career Executive Service Board Circular No. 11, series of 1993 dated August 16, 1993. "Pursuant to the provisions of Career Executive Service (CES) law and CES Board Resolution No. 93-101 adopting a sabbatical leave program in the CES, the following implementation guidelines on the sabbatical leave are hereby issued for the guidance of all concerned: casia Sec. 1. Definition of Sabbatical Leave . Sabbatical leave in the Career Executive Service refers to an official's leave from work of not more than six (6) months with pay to pursue any of the activities identified in Section 3 below. It is granted to Career Executive Service Officers (CESOs) and CES eligibles who are incumbents of CES positions for seven (7) years of very satisfactory service in a CES position and every seven (7) years of very satisfactory performance thereafter. Sec. 2. Purpose of Sabbatical Leave . The Sabbatical Leave aims to provide CESOs and CES eligibles with the opportunity to further their professional development and growth. It shall also serve as a venue for creativity and demonstration of the officials' executive excellence where their personal expertise is utilized for public service outside of their department/agency. It is granted as a reward to an official for his very satisfactory performance and as an encouragement for future high performance by him. Sec. 3. Forms . Sabbatical leave may take any of the following forms: a) Sabbatical for Personal Growth, i.e., attendance in training programs, pursuit of advance studies, or other forms of professional advancement; casia b) Sabbatical for Social Service, i.e., involvement in a countryside development project of an accredited Non-Governmental Organization or of a Local Government Unit (LGU), teaching in a state university or college or rendering assistance to an LGU where his expertise is required; and, c) Sabbatical for Research and Book Writing. Sec. 4. Implementation . The implementation of the sabbatical leave program shall be the responsibility of the department/agency. The Department Secretary or Head of agency shall recommend for approval by the Career Executive Service Board applications for sabbatical leave which he finds meritorious after evaluation by the department/agency Sabbatical Leave Screening Committee; provided, that when the exigency of the service requires or where the implementation of department/agency projects and activities dictate, the Secretary or Head of agency may recommend deferment or postponement of the sabbatical leave to some later date but not more than one year from the start of the official's entitlement to it. In evaluating applications for sabbatical leave, the Secretary or Head of agency and the Sabbatical Leave Screening Committee shall be guided by the following: a) Coverage . Sabbatical leave shall be enjoyed only by CESO or a CES eligible who is an incumbent of a CES position and who has served the CES for seven (7) years with very satisfactory performance. b) Frequency of Leave . A Sabbatical leave may be enjoyed by a CESO or a CES eligible once every seven (7) years of service in a CES position except when the official concerned is in his last five (5) years of service prior to compulsory retirement. c) Duration . A sabbatical leave shall be for a period of not more than six (6) months. In the event that the purpose of the leave shall be accomplished within a period of less than six (6) months, the unutilized portion of the leave shall be forfeited and shall not be added to the official's vacation or sick leave. d) Sabbatical Leave Application . An official intending to go on sabbatical leave shall submit his application to the Department/Agency Sabbatical Leave Screening Committee six (6) months before the proposed leave. The application shall be accompanied by two (2) copies of the official's sabbatical leave plan. e) Sabbatical Leave Plan . An official going on sabbatical leave shall prepare and submit, together with his application, a sabbatical leave plan detailing the purpose and nature of the sabbatical leave, the expected outputs, the action plan of implementation including time frame, duration and post sabbatical activities like information sharing for project replicability. The plan must also identify the organization or institution with whose projects or activities the official intends to spend his sabbatical leave. An acceptance by the organization or institution of the official's participation in its project through his sabbatical shall accompany the application. f) Processing of Sabbatical Leave Application . The department/agency shall evaluate and process the sabbatical leave application of its official within a month from receipt and shall thereafter inform him whether the application is endorsed to the Board for approval, deferment or disapproval. In case of a disapproval or deferment of the sabbatical leave application, the official concerned shall be informed of the reasons in writing. g) Endorsement To and Action By the Board . Applications for sabbatical leave favorably acted upon by the department/agency shall be endorsed to the Board for final action within forty-five (45) days from its receipt by the department/agency. The Board shall, within thirty (30) days from receipt of such endorsement, act on the sabbatical leave application. h) Appeal on the Department/Agency Action . An official whose application for sabbatical leave is denied by the department/agency may appeal his case to the Board. i) Monitoring of Sabbatical Leave . The department/agency shall monitor its official's sabbatical leave to ensure that the purpose of the leave is accomplished. Sec. 5. Sabbatical Leave Screening Committee . The department/agency shall have a Sabbatical Leave Screening Committee to be headed by an Undersecretary of an equivalent rank official. The committee shall as its main task the evaluation of the sabbatical leave application and the viability of the objectives and activities set out in the official's sabbatical leave plan to ensure that the purpose for which the program has been set up is met. The committee shall recommend to the Secretary or Head of agency the appropriate action to take on the application. Sec. 6. Payment of Salary and Other Benefits . An official on sabbatical leave shall be entitled to the payment of his salary and other benefits such as bonuses, 13th month pay, clothing allowance, etc. during the period of leave. Where the activities performed under the sabbatical leave allow for payment of allowances, the official shall be entitled to the same in addition to his salary, provided, that the allowances shall not exceed fifty percent (50%) of his monthly salary. Sec. 7. Obligation of the Official Going on Sabbatical Leave . a) An official on sabbatical leave shall ensure the completion of his sabbatical leave plan during its approved duration. b) If for any valid reason, the official is unable to continue with his plan implementation, the official shall immediately inform the Department Secretary or Agency Head and the Board about the matter so that appropriate remedial action may be undertaken. c) At the end of the sabbatical leave, the official shall report back for work immediately. Within a month of his return, he shall submit a report on his sabbatical leave and undertake the necessary post sabbatical activities identified in his plan. A copy of the report shall be furnished the CES Board. d) An official on sabbatical leave shall not engage in any form of employment. Sec. 8. Actions on Non-Completion of the Sabbatical Leave Plan . An official who fails to complete and/or accomplish the objectives of his sabbatical leave plan for no valid reason shall refund all salaries and benefits he has received by reason of the sabbatical leave and shall be disqualified from participation in and/or enjoyment of future sabbatical leaves. acd Sec. 9. Limitations on the Number of Officials Going on Sabbatical Leave . The officials going on sabbatical leave at any one time shall not exceed ten percent (10%) of all CESOs and CES eligibles occupying CES positions in the department/agency. Sec. 10. Grants . Where available, grants may be availed of by an official going on sabbatical leave in support of his sabbatical leave plan implementation. The grant may be from foreign sources or from the official's department/agency. Department/Agency grants shall have the endorsement of the Sabbatical Leave Screening Committee and approval of the Department Secretary or Agency Head. Sec. 11. Effectivity . This circular shall take effect immediately. Done in Quezon City, Philippines, this 16th day of August, Nineteen Hundred and Ninety Three. cdt (Sgd.) PATRICIA A. STO. TOMAS Chairman Attested by: ELMOR D. JURIDICO Executive Director" All revenue officials and employees are enjoined to give this circular as wide a publicity as possible. LIWAYWAY VINZONS-CHATO Commissioner of Internal Revenue ANNEX A Circular No. 11 Series of 1993 Subject : Sabbatical Leave Program in the Career Executive Service (CES) For : All Heads of Departments and Agencies of the National Government including Government-Owned or Controlled Corporations with Original Charters and all Officials in the Career Executive Service Pursuant to the provisions of Career Executive Service (CES) law and CES Board Resolution No. 93-101 adopting a sabbatical leave programs in the CES, the following implementation guidelines on the sabbatical leave are hereby issued for the guidance of all concerned: SECTION 1 . Definition of Sabbatical Leave . Sabbatical leave in the Career Executive Service refers to an official's leave from work of not more than six (6) months with pay to pursue any of the activities identified in Section 3 below. It is granted to Career Executive Service Officers (CESOs) and CES eligibles who are incumbents of CES positions for seven (7) years of very satisfactory service in a CES position and every seven (7) years of very satisfactory performance thereafter. acd SECTION 2 . Purpose of Sabbatical Leave . The Sabbatical Leave aims to provide CESOs and CES eligibles with the opportunity to further their professional development and growth. It shall also serve as a venue for creativity and demonstration of the officials' executive excellence where their personal expertise is utilized for public service outside of their department/agency. It is granted as a reward to an official for his very satisfactory performance and as an encouragement for future high performance by him. SECTION 3 . Forms . Sabbatical leave may take any of the following forms: a) Sabbatical for Personal Growth, i.e., attendance in training programs, pursuit of advance studies, or other forms of professional advancement; b) Sabbatical for Social Service, i.e., involvement in a countryside development project of an accredited Non-Governmental Organization or of a Local Government Unit (LGU), teaching in a state university or college or rendering assistance to an LGU where his expertise is required; and, c) Sabbatical for Research and Book Writing . SECTION 4 . Implementation . The implementation of the sabbatical leave program shall be the responsibility of the department/agency. The Department Secretary or Head of agency shall recommend for approval by the Career Executive Service Board applications for sabbatical leave which he finds meritorious after evaluation by the department/agency Sabbatical Leave Screening Committee; provided, that when the exigency of the service requires or where the implementation of department/agency projects and activities dictate, the Secretary or Head of agency may recommend deferment or postponement of the sabbatical leave to some later date but not more than one year from the start of the official's entitlement to it. In evaluating applications for sabbatical leave, the Secretary or Head of agency and the Sabbatical Leave Screening Committee shall be guided by the following: a) Coverage . Sabbatical leave shall be enjoyed only by a CESO or a CES eligible who is an incumbent of a CES position and who has served the CES for seven (7) years with very satisfactory performance. acd b) Frequency of Leave . A sabbatical leave may be enjoyed by a CESO or a CES eligible once every seven (7) years of service in a CES position except when the official concerned is in his last five (5) years of service prior to compulsory retirement. c) Duration . A sabbatical leave shall be for a period of not more than six (6) months. In the event that the purpose of the leave shall be accomplished within a period of less than six (6) months, the unutilized portion of the leave shall be forfeited and shall not be added to the official's vacation or sick leave. d) Sabbatical Leave Application . An official intending to go on sabbatical leave shall submit his application to the Department/Agency Sabbatical Leave Screening Committee six (6) months before the proposed leave. The application shall be accompanied by two (2) copies of the official's sabbatical leave plan. e) Sabbatical Leave Plan . An official going on sabbatical leave shall prepare and submit, together with his application, a sabbatical leave plan detailing the purpose and nature of the sabbatical leave, the expected outputs, the action plan of implementation including time frame, duration and post sabbatical activities like information sharing for project replicability. The plan must also identify the organization or institution with whose projects or activities the official intends to spend his sabbatical leave. An acceptance by the organization or institution of the official's participation in its project through his sabbatical shall accompany the application. casia f) Processing of Sabbatical Leave Application . The department/agency shall evaluate and process the sabbatical leave application of its official within a month from receipt and shall thereafter inform him whether the application is endorsed to the Board for approval, deferment or disapproval. In case of a disapproval or deferment of the sabbatical leave application, the official concerned shall be informed of the reasons in writing. g) Endorsement To and Action by the Board . Applications for sabbatical leave favorably acted upon by the department/agency shall be endorsed to the Board for final action within forty-five (45) days from its receipt by the department/agency. The Board shall, within thirty (30) days from receipt of such endorsement, act on the sabbatical leave application. h) Appeal on the Department/Agency Action . An official whose application for sabbatical leave is denied by the department/agency may appeal his case to the Board. i) Monitoring of Sabbatical Leave . The department/agency shall monitor its official's sabbatical leave to ensure that the purpose of the leave is accomplished . casia SECTION 5 . Sabbatical Leave Screening Committee . The department/agency shall have a Sabbatical Leave Screening Committee to be headed by an Undersecretary or an equivalent rank official. The committee shall have as its main task the evaluation of the sabbatical leave application and the viability of the objectives and activities set out in the official's sabbatical leave plan to ensure that the purpose for which the program has been set up is met. The committee shall recommend to the Secretary or Head of agency the appropriate action to take on the application. SECTION 6 . Payment of Salary and Other Benefits . An official on sabbatical leave shall be entitled to the payment of his salary and other benefits such as bonuses, 13th month pay, clothing allowance, etc. during the period of leave. Where the activities performed under the sabbatical leave allow for payment of allowances, the official shall be entitled to the same in addition to his salary, provided, that the allowances shall not exceed fifty percent (50%) of his monthly salary. SECTION 7 . Obligations of the Official Going on Sabbatical Leave a) An official on sabbatical leave shall ensure the completion of his sabbatical leave plan during its approved duration. b) If for any valid reason, the official is unable to continue with his plan implementation, the official shall immediately inform the Department Secretary or Agency Head and the Board about the matter so that appropriate remedial action may be undertaken. acd c) At the end of the sabbatical leave, the official shall report back for work immediately. Within a month of his return, he shall submit a report on his sabbatical leave and undertake the necessary post sabbatical activities identified in his plan. A copy of the report shall be furnished the CES Board. d) An official on sabbatical leave shall not engage in any form of employment. SECTION 8 . Actions on Non-Completion of the Sabbatical Leave Plan . An official who fails to complete and/or accomplish the objectives of his sabbatical leave plan for no valid reason shall refund all salaries and benefits he has received by reason of the sabbatical leave and shall be disqualified from participation in and/or enjoyment of future sabbatical leaves. SECTION 9 . Limitations on the Number of Officials Going on Sabbatical Leave . The officials going on sabbatical leave at any one time shall not exceed ten percent (10%) of all CESOs and CES eligibles occupying CES positions in the department/agency. SECTION 10 . Grants . Where available, grants may be availed of by an official going on sabbatical leave in support of his sabbatical leave plan implementation. The grant may be from foreign sources or from the official's department/agency. Department/agency grants shall have the endorsement of the Sabbatical Leave Screening Committee and approval of the Department Secretary or Agency Head. SECTION 11 . Effectivity . This Circular shall take effect immediately. Done in Quezon City, Philippines, this 16th day of August, Nineteen Hundred and Ninety Three. PATRICIA A. STO. TOMAS Chairman Attested by: ELMOR D. JURIDICO Executive Director August 16, 1993