Sabbatical Leave Program in the Career Executive Service (CES)

November 13, 2000 REVENUE MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 21-00 SUBJECT : Sabbatical Leave Program in the Career Executive Service (CES) TO : All Revenue Career Executive Service Officers (CESOs) and CES Eligibles who are incumbents of CES positions For the information of all Revenue Career Executive Officers (CESOs) and CES Eligibles who are incumbents of CES positions, quoted hereunder is CSC Board Circular No. 2, Series of 2000, by CSC Chairman Corazon Alma G. de Leon. "CAREER EXECUTIVE SERVICE BOARD No. 3 Marcelino St., Holy Spirit Drive, Quezon City - Tel. Nos. 9514981 (Trunkline), 931-57-32 (Fax) Circular No. 2 Series of 2000 TO : 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 SUBJECT : Sabbatical Leave Program in the Career Executive Service (CES) Pursuant to the provision of Career Executive Service (CES) law and CES Board Resolution No. 169 dated February 3, 1998 amending Board Resolution No. 101 dated August 2, 1993 and Board Circular No. 11 dated August 16, 1993, all on the sabbatical leave program in the CES, the following guidelines thereon are hereby issued for the guidance of all concerned: Section 1. Definition of Sabbatical Leave . Sabbatical leave in the Career Executive Service refers to CES 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 at least (5) years and who have achieved a performance rating of at least Very Satisfactory under the CES Performance Evaluation System (CESPES) for five (5) consecutive years. 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 the Career Executive Service. It is granted as a reward and incentive to officials for their very satisfactory performance and as an encouragement for their future high performance. Section 3. Forms . Sabbatical leave may take any of the following forms: a) Sabbatical for personal growth, i.e., teaching in a state university or college, pursuit of advance studies, or other forms of professional advancement, secondment to an international organization, research or book writing; and, b) Sabbatical for public service, i.e., involvement in a countryside development project of a local government unit (LGU), or of an accredited non-governmental organization or rendering assistance to an LGU where his expertise is required. Section 4. Implementation . The implementation of the sabbatical leave program shall be the responsibility of the department/agency concerned. The Department Secretary or Head of agency shall recommend for approval by the Career Executive Service Board applications for sabbatical leave which he/she finds meritorious; 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 within the calendar year. In evaluating applications for sabbatical leave, the Secretary or Head of agency 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 at least five (5) years and whose performance rating under the CESPES is at least very satisfactory for five (5) consecutive years. b) Frequency of Leave . A sabbatical leave may be enjoyed by a CESO or a CES Eligible once every five (5) years of service in a CES position except when the official concerned is in his last two (2) 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/her application to the Board through the department/agency who must accordingly endorse the application 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 be attached to the sabbatical leave plan. 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/her 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 thirty (30) 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. The Board may approve or disapprove the sabbatical leave application on the basis of its evaluation of the sabbatical leave plan and the expected results. j) Monitoring of Sabbatical Leave . The department/agency shall monitor its official's sabbatical leave to ensure that the purpose of the leave is accomplished. Section 5. 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 honoraria/allowances by the host institution, 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 6. 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 reasons, 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. Section 7. 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 8. 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 9. Grants . Where available, grants may be availed of by an official going on sabbatical leave in support of his sabbatical leave plan implementation. DAaIHT Section 10. Effectivity . This Circular shall take effect immediately. (SIGNED) CORAZON ALMA G. DE LEON Chairman Attested by: (SIGNED) NORMITA L. VILLANUEVA Executive Director 3 October. 2000" Please be guided accordingly. (SGD.) ESTELITA C. AGUIRRE Deputy Commissioner Resource Management Group