Lawmaker wants civil servants to work in their hometowns

Quirino Rep. Midy Cua is pushing for a measure that will allow civil servants to work or be assigned to their home provinces and limit their outside assignments to three years.

Through House Bill No. 9527, Cua hopes to raise the morale of state employees and boost efficiency in public service.

According to Cua, HB 9527 would benefit civil service officers and workers as well as the government by clearly defining the time they spend away from their home provinces and families.

“Allowing officers and employees to assume positions in their home province can also be viewed as a reward and morale boost after rendering service outside of their home province,” she pointed out, adding, “In general, the movement of personnel back to their home province increases the efficiency and effectiveness of government through technology transfer and increased morale.”

HB 9527 asserts as a policy of the state to “respect the preferred work locations of civil service officers and personnel without sacrificing the need to promote morale and efficiency in the civil service.”Under the proposed measure, civil servants holding permanent positions will be given preference for assignment or appointment to positions based in the city or province where they reside. Qualified and deserving persons will be given preference in filling new or vacant positions in their home city or province.

“No officer or employee shall be assigned or appointed to a position based in a city or province outside of their permanent residence for a period of more than three years. After which the officer or employee shall be assigned or appointed to a position based in the city or province of their permanent residence. Provided that an officer or employee may voluntarily choose to continue serving in a position based outside of his permanent residence,” the bill also provides…. Read more