BONTOC, Mountain Province – With the aim to establish and maintain a viable organization that shall pursue, defend, protect, maintain, promote, advance and support the welfare of provincial employees, and as partners in nation-building and good governance, in the delivery of public service and in community development, the Mountain Province Provincial Government Employees Union (MPPGEU) has been duly organized, registered and accredited recently by the Civil Service Commission on Feb. 26, 2019.
The organization was started last year hoping for additional take home pay of the provincial employees to spend the Christmas and New Year seasons, however, it did not succeed due to some requirements like the accreditation of the Civil Service Commission (CSC).
The union is headed by Mr. Roger U. Sacyaten as President. Vice President is Stella C. Chatoy, Secretary- Maria Concepcion L. Kabluyen, Assistant Secretary- Aurora Gilda C. Pachingel, Treasurer- Marcelina A. Piluden, Assistant Treasurer- Helen F. Macgui-ing, Auditor- Fredorinne C. Pec-ao, Assistant Auditor- Jerome M. Falingao, and Press Relation Officer- Alfredo F. Macalling.
Members of the Board includes Juanita L. lampac, Francis B. Degay, Jenilyn C. Ligyasi, Paulagne Mae K. Tayaotao, Joey L. Silverio, Estrella S. Africano, Petra O. ossog, Olivia Inmachog, Wilfred B. Bilog, Helen K. Gasmena, Albert P. Payocyoc, Harriet E. Tayab, Mario T. Sildon, Thom P. Tawagen, Eunice G. Andaya, and Johnny S. Bangsoy.
Records from the Provincial Human Resource Management Office show that there are 814 rank and file, and permanent employees of the provincial government as of October 31, 2018 which will definitely compose the newly organized union.
CSC Provincial Director Anita P. Taytayan, during the Flag Raising Ceremony, extended her appreciation and congratulation to the officers and members behind the organization of the employees union. According to her, only the CSC accredited union pursuant to the provisions of Executive Order No. 180 dated June 1, 1987 governing the government employees to organize, as the sole and exclusive negotiating agent of the rank-and-file employees in the Provincial Government of Mountain Province. She advised that their office is willing to extend assistance related to members’ welfare, most especially the Collective Negotiation Agreement (CNA) concerns.
MPPGEU President Roger Sacyaten said that the harmonious working relationship between the top management and the rank-in-file will be maintained and established with the organization of the union. He added that the next move of the union is to come up with the drafting of the CNA as soon as possible.
According to Sacyaten, among the concerns that need to be brought to the attention of the management is the Retirement & Mortuary Assistance Program (RAP/MAP) wherein 1 percent is being deducted from the salaries of all employees of the provincial government with no clear guidelines. It has been noted during the first year of implementation that there were employees who availed of the program with merely paid one or more month of deduction from their salaries while others availed without even contributing a single centavo.
Another concern is the year- end bonus of the employees at the end of the Calendar Year 2019. The CAN incentive is expected to be avails, for the first time, this year end.
On the other hand, Provincial Governor Bonifacio C. Lacwasan, Jr. issued an Administrative Order No. 06, s.2019 dated March 18, 2019 constituting the corresponding panel members of the top management to look into the concerns.
The top management is headed by Atty. Amador P. Batay-an- Chairman and its members are Theodore B. Marerro- Provincial Accountant; Florence R. Gut-omen- Provincial Budget Officer; Cawed A. Gamonnac- Provincial Treasurer, Atty. Thomas A. Kiwang, Jr.- Provincial Legal Officer; Loenilla Milagrose F. Malla-ao- Provincial HRMO, and Hon. Raul M. Lapon- SP member and Chairman on Budget Appropriation.
The provincial governor, who is vying for the same position during this term, assured the union officers that employee’s welfare is always his priority. He then solicited the support of all the provincial government employees to support his administration.
Meanwhile, the union president is asking also the rank-and-file employees to support the administration in attaining good governance by adhering CSC rules and regulations such as coming and leaving office on time, and minimizing unnecessary travels to avoid waste of government resources.
He is optimistic that the union’s Constitution and Bylaws will be ratified by all the members this June 2019. By Alfred Macalling
