BONTOC, Mountain Province – Qualified provincial government employees may expect to receive additional cash incentive through Collective Negotiation Agreement (CNA), for the first time, by December after Governor Bonifacio C. Lacwasan Jr. announced during the flag raising ceremony on September 30, 2019 that he is open to give incentives.
“I am a pro-employee governor and we will give what is due to employees provided that there is enough savings,” he said.
The CNA incentive may be granted to both management and rank-and-file employees of agencies with approved and successfully implemented CNAs in recognition of their efforts in accomplishing performance targets at lesser cost and in attaining more efficient and viable operations through cost-cutting measures and systems improvement.
Based from the CNA which was both ratified by the top management, composed mostly of the head of offices, and the Mountain Province Provincial Government Employees Union (MPPGEU) officers representing the rank-in-file employees, all regular employees including elected officials of the provincial government are entitled to receive cash incentive provided that all pertinent documents as provided in the DBM guidelines are complied.
Among the benefits to be granted are the cash incentives of not more than P25,000.00 by the end of the year, free annual medical and dental examination in the provincial government operated hospitals; and appropriation of funds for the purchase of boots, raincoats, hazard hats, and gloves to all construction and maintenance men working in the provincial roads for every three years
The review and amendments of the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the Retirement and Mortuary Assistance Program (RAP/MOP) was also included in the collective negotiation agreement.
Aside from the CNA, the union enables it to be represented in the provincial government standing bodies such as Provincial Selection Board, Grievance Committee and among others.
To save for the realization for the incentives, the rank and file and management agreed to undertake measures without sacrificing the attainment of quality services and targets such as: putting off all lights and other utilities when not in use; prioritizing trainings conducted within the municipality and minimize attendance to trainings conducted outside the province; re-use of office supplies, minimized the use of cell cards/mobile loads; and avoid the use of internet when it is not work related.
It is to be noted that the top management are urged to grant cash incentives last year, however, it was not realized due to lack of legal basis such as the bargaining agreement and other pertinent documents.
The employees union headed by Mr. Roger U. Sacyaten, Supervising Tourism Officer, thanked the governor for favorably acting on the request of the employees.
By Alfred Macalling
