BONTOC, Mountain Province – The leadership of the Philippine Councilors League (PCL) Mountain Province chapter recently reported on the updates concerning the welfare of local legislators who are considered the most precious public servants if not the gods of the community.
PCL Mountain Province chapter president boardmember Kapon Gomgom-o said that he is deeply touched because of every local legislator’s dedication not only to their call of duty but also to their active participation to the group’s activities amidst the dimensions affecting one’s life.
He announced that for the third and second termers, Republic Act 10156 confer all members of the local legislative bodies the appropriate eligibility by the Civil Service Commission (CSC) through Resolution No. 13004 and CSC Memorandum 12 where those who are second termers can avail of the first level eligibility while the third termers can avail of the second level eligibility.
However, Gomgom-o reminded the qualified local legislators to apply for the eligibility with the CSC regional or filed offices within two years from the effectivity of the said laws.
The PCL Mountain Province chapter president pointed out that Republic Act 7699 or the Portability Law is an alternative remedy for non-qualified employees in availing Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) or Social Security System (SSS) pensions where government retirees who do not meet the required number of years provided under Presidential Decree 1146 and RA 8291 may still avail themselves of retirement and other benefits.
Under the said law, the number of years from GSIS can be added to their SSS years of service and vice versa to be able to avail of the prescribed retirements benefits.
On social services, Gomgom-o reported that the PCL chapter donated P10,000 to the fire victims in the capital town last year aside from the group’s cash donations to the fire victims of Sabangan recently.
According to him, the PCL chapter also extended financial assistance to the relatives of the local legislators for their various needs.
Gomgom-o claimed that the PCL Mountain Province chapter was also able to get a national award but without cash incentives.
Among the continuing programs of the chapter include the conduct of a local legislative award spearheaded by the organization in coordination with the Department of the Interior and Local government (DILG), the provincial government and other private sectors where the ten municipalities were able to get their respective plaques and P3,000 cash incentives as the same is done every three years; blood letting program where every local legislator should avail of the premium card in support to the program of the Philippine Red Cross; the conduct of a tree planting activity in partnership with youth volunteers where the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office donated some 300 seedlings; financial and death assistance and other related activities.
Gomgom-o expressed the group’s gratitude to Gov. Bonifacio C. Lacwasan Jr. and Vice Gov. Francis Tauli for their all-out support in the conduct of the various activities of the organization that resulted in the successful holding of its scheduled activities with the active participation of local legislators. By Dexter A. See
