CSC: Service Delivery, Governance Continue Amid Transition of New Leadership

Chairperson Alicia Dela Rosa-Bala of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) said human resource (HR) practitioners play a major role along with other civil servants to ensure a healthy balance between continuity and change amid the transition of a new leadership starting July 1.

Dela Rosa-Bala, in a recent press conference, said there will be a lot of challenges in a new bureaucracy but stressed that governance and service delivery must not be compromised during transitions.

The CSC Chairperson is in Cebu to grace the ongoing three-day 2016 Public Sector HR Symposium May 23 to 25 attended by 1,900 delegates throughout the country.

Dela Rosa-Bala said this year’s theme of ‘Managing Transitions in Strategic Human Resource and Organization Development” is aptly timed to allow participants to reflect on their role as leaders and HR practitioners and make sure delivery of public services would not be affected during the transition stage in leadership change.

“The critical point of transition is (for public officials) never to forget their sworn duties and the public’s trust and to serve the latter with utmost professionalism and integrity,” she said, adding that “we need to unite and work together for the good welfare of the citizenry.”

For the part of CSC, Dela Rosa-Bala said its policy remains the same and that all appointments should merit fitness and competence.

Minimum qualification standards must be met relative to education, training and experience, she added.

Dela Rosa-Bala reminded public officials that nepotism is a grave offense and that in national government agencies, relatives up to the 3rd degree of consanguinity is prohibited to enter the same agency while the prohibition applies up to the 4th degree of affinity to local government units.

The position of administrator, however, is not covered under nepotism as this should have the confidence and trust of the local chief executive, said Dela Rosa-Bala. “However, there is still a need to comply with qualification standards,” she said.

Asked regarding the common practice of nepotism by local chief executives, Dela Rosa-Bala said a complaint that should be filed.

But for local chief executives, the complaint should be lodged to the Ombudsman’s Office as the agency has the jurisdiction over the elected public officials, she further said.

According to the CSC Chairperson, no government official or employee should be suspended or removed except by cause provided under the 1987 Constitution.

Any employee who feels unjustly treated can seek legal remedy from their office, said Dela Rosa-Bala. (rmn/fcr/PIA7)