COTABATO CITY — The Bangsamoro Planning and Development Authority (BPDA) led by Administrative Division – Human Resource Section successfully conducted a โNew Staff Orientationโ held Monday, August 22, 2022 at the BPDA Conference Hall 2, Bangsamoro Government Center, this city.
Said orientation is in compliance to the mandate stated under Article 51 or the โprobationary periodโ of the Civil Service Code for BARMM, directing the appointees to take a general orientation provided by their respective agency. Similarly, in Article 97, BARMM employees should undergo learning and development intervention every year.
Furthermore, this activity aimed to educate the employees of their role towards helping the Bangsamoro government achieve its goals vis-a-vis their opportunities and expectations.
In his message, Akmad A. Guinta, Director I for Finance and Administrative Support Services (FASS) Bureau, underscored that the conduct of the said orientation is not new to the employees since similar activity was also conducted last year.
โOur office scheduled this dayโs orientation to cascade and explain more salient features that has to be learned by a government employee,โ he said.
Among the topics discussed were the history of BARMM and its salient features; โMoral Governanceโ and how it is manifested in oneโs daily life; different kinds of leaves, norms of conduct, and modes of employee discipline; employee benefits; and the duties and responsibilities of a BARMM employee.
Asshaima Abas, Human Resource Management Officer, discussed the rich history of the BARMM, institutionalization of moral governance in BARMM, and civil service matters such as government working hours, time monitoring system, compensatory time-off, official time, alternative work arrangements, absenteeism and tardiness, and policies on half-day absence and undertime.
Moreover, Ameraida B. Cosain tackled the matters pertaining on office attire and personal appearance, probationary period, leave of absence, rules on leaves, and terminal leave pay computation, while Fatimah B. Tahir discussed the role of Civil Service Commission for BARMM, employeeโs benefits, and computation of salary, highlighting that the BARMM is covered by the Salary Standardization Act.
Among the employeeโs benefits are step increment for every three years staying in the same position, mid-year bonus, year-end bonus, cash gift, Personal Economic Relief Allowance (PERA), Additional Compensation (AdCom), Productivity Incentive Bonus (PIB), clothing allowance, Representation and Transportation Allowance (RATA) for an employee occupying a position that entitled to such allowance, loyalty awards benefits pursuant to CSC MC No. 06, series of 2002, and other monetary benefits to be determined by the BARMM and subject to availability of funds.
Zenaida A. Badrudin, Chief Administrative Officer for FASS Division, discussed the code of conduct, prohibited acts and transactions, duties of public officials and employees, discipline, schedule of offenses, and other specific offenses provided in Republic Act No. 9485 such grave and light offenses.
โEvery public official and employee in the Bangsamoro Government shall observe the standards of personal conduct in the discharge and execution of official duties,โ she stressed.
In his statement, BPDA Deputy Director General Amil J. Abubakar reminded the participants on public trust and quoted Section 2, Article XI of the Philippine Constitution, stating โPublic officers and employees must at all times be accountable to the people, serve them with utmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty and efficiency, act with patriotism and justice, and lead modest livesโ.
Meanwhile, a pilot testing for new staff orientation participated by different BARMM ministries, offices, and agencies was facilitated by the Office of the Chief Minister โ Human Resource Management Division together with Hellie Biruar, consultant for JICA, held at Alnor Hotel and Convention Center last July 13-14, 2022. (Mary Lovella Lao-Lastimosa with reports from FASS Division, BPDA-BARMM)