Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah “Mina” F. Pangandaman urged the heads of agencies to prioritize contract of service (COS) and job order (JO) workers in filling their respective vacant plantilla positions in government.

 

In a press briefing at the DBM Central Office, the Secretary shared that out of the total 2,017,380 plantilla positions in the national government, 92 percent are filled, while the remaining eight (8) percent (equivalent to 168,719 positions) remains unfilled.

 

“8 percent— that’s 168,719 positions unfilled pa. We encourage our department heads to absorb ‘yung mga JO and COS natin when they fill in these unfilled plantilla positions. I-prioritize

 natin sila,” Sec. Mina said.

 

Secretary Mina also highlighted the recent issuance of the Commission on Audit (COA)-DBM Joint Circular No. 2, series of 2024, providing the extension of the transition period on the engagement of COS and JO workers in the government. The Joint Circular provides that the departments/agencies may engage the services of new COS/JO workers through individual contracts and renew the individual contracts of their existing COS/JO workers until December 31, 2025.

 

The move follows President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to extend the transition period on the engagement of the COS and JO workers in government whose contracts will expire in December this year.

 

“Bakit po kailangan ito? Para po hindi sila matanggal sa trabaho. And at the same time, madagdagan pa po ‘yung kanilang work and educational experience,” Secretary Mina said.

 

“So, with the extension of until December 31, 2025, we are giving them a chance na mapalago pa ang kanilang experience and even their educational experience para makapasok sila doon sa mga bakante na position sa national government. Marami po ‘yan. Kung titignan niyo po, parang kulang, pero sa isang department po, marami po d’yan ang unfilled positions,” Sec. Mina added.

 

To recall, President Bongbong Marcos earlier instructed government agencies to implement strategies to assist COS and JO workers in qualifying for permanent positions. Among the strategies being considered is to implement programs, such as review sessions, to help their respective COS and JO workers pass the Civil Service Examination. In addition, skills and capabilities of the COS and JO workers could be developed by reeducating and training them, thereby, enabling them to pass the Civil Service Examination.

 

COS refers to the engagement of the services of an individual, private firm, other government agency, non-governmental agency, or international organization as a consultant, learning service provider, or technical expert to undertake a special project or job within a specific period.

 

Meanwhile, JO refers to piece work (pakyaw) or intermittent or emergency jobs to be undertaken for a short duration and for a specific piece of work.

 

Ika-15 ng Agosto 2024

 

Hinimok ni Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah “Mina” F. Pangandaman ang mga heads of agencies na unahin ang mga contract of service (COS) at job order (JO) workers sa pagpuno ng kani-kanilang mga bakanteng  plantilla positions sa gobyerno.

 

Sa press briefing sa DBM Central Office, ibinahagi ng Secretary na sa kabuuang 2,017,380 plantilla positions sa national government, 92 porsiyento ang napunan, samantalangang ang natitirang walong (8) porsiyento (katumbas ng 168,719 positions) ay nananatiling bakante.

 

“8 percent— that’s 168,719 positions unfilled pa. We encourage our department heads to absorb ‘yung mga JO and COS natin when they fill in these unfilled plantilla positions. I-prioritize natin sila,” pahayag ni Sec. Mina.

 

Binigyang-diin din ni Secretary Mina ang kamakailang pagpapalabas ng Commission on Audit (COA)-DBM Joint Circular No. 2, series of 2024, na nagbibigay ng extension sa transition period para sa pagsisilbi  sa gobyerno ng mga manggagawang COS at JO. Sinasabi ng Joint Circular na maaaring kumuha ang mga  kagawaran/ahensya ng mga serbisyo ng mga bagong COS/JO sa pamamagitan ng individual contracts at irenew ang mga individual contracts ng mga existing COS/JO workers hanggang December 31, 2025.

 

Ang hakbang ay kasunod ng direktiba ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. na palawigin ang transition period sa serbisyo ng mga manggagawang COS at JO sa gobyerno na ang mga kontrata ay magtatapos sa Disyembre ngayong taon.

 

“Bakit po kailangan ito? Para po hindi sila matanggal sa trabaho. And at the same time, madagdagan pa po ‘yung kanilang work and educational experience,” sinabi ni Secretary Mina.

 

“So, with the extension of until December 31, 2025, we are giving them a chance na mapalago pa ang kanilang experience and even their educational experience para makapasok sila doon sa mga bakante na position sa national government. Marami po ‘yan. Kung titignan niyo po, parang kulang, pero sa isang department po, marami po d’yan ang unfilled positions,” dagdag pa ni Sec. Mina.

 

Matatandaan na nauna nang inatasan ni Pangulong Bongbong Marcos ang mga ahensya ng gobyerno na magpatupad ng mga istratehiya para tulungan ang mga manggagawang COS at JO para maging  kwalipikado sa mga permanenting posisyon. Kabilang sa mga istratehiyang pinag-iisipan ay ang pagpapatupad ng mga programa, tulad ng mga review session, upang matulungan ang kani-kanilang mga manggagawang COS at JO na makapasa sa Civil Service Examination. Bilang karagdagan, ang mga kasanayan at kakayahan ng mga manggagawang COS at JO ay maaaring paunlarin sa pamamagitan ng muling pag-aaral at pagsasanay na magbibigay-daan para sila ay makapasa sa Civil Service Examination.

 

Ang COS ay tumutukoy sa pagkuha ng serbisyo ng individual, private firm, ibang  government agency, non-governmental agency, o international organization bilang  consultant, learning service provider,  o technical expert upang  magsagawa ng isang espesyal na proyekto o trabaho sa loob ng isang tiyak na panahon.

 

Samantala, ang JO ay mga  trabahong piece work (pakyaw) o intermittent o emergency na isasagawa sa maikling panahon at para sa isang tiyak na trabaho.