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Wednesday, August 20, 2003
Binmaley council to pass education support measure
By Lorna C. Hermogeno
BINMALEY -- Municipal Councilor Salvador C. Bautista, principal author of the ordinance establishing an educational support program for the municipal government of this town, said the successful passage of this ordinance would greatly improve the delivery of basic services to his constituents.
Under Article II of the ordinance, which is the declaration of policy, it says that it is the policy of the municipal government to assist in any legal way its employees who wish to continue, pursue or complete formal pre-bar or pre-board review and examination; vocational or technical course.
Bautista said he talked to the Human Resource Officer of Binmaley and he learned that many of the employees finished 4-year degree courses.
"But they were not able to take the board examinations or the bar for the simple reason that they are already pre-occupied with their jobs in the municipality and they don't have spare time to pursue their continuing studies.
There are those who are already permanent but they haven't acquired yet the educational competence, or the needed educational preparation," he said.
Bautista said that what motivated him to come up with this ordinance is his belief that the educational growth of the government employees would mean the improvement in the delivery of basic services to the people of Binmaley.
"So I thought of sponsoring an ordinance that would support these employees, give then ample opportunity to pursue the needed educational qualification because I believe that one of the reasons for good governance is because of the educational competence of the employees," he said.
The most important feature of this ordinance, according to Bautista, is that it allows the grantee to go on leave for six months.
"Under the Civil Service Law, you are only allowed to go on leave for 15 days vacation leave and another 15 days for sick leave so that is too short for them to pursue their studies," he said.
The ordinance, however, allows employees to go on leave for six months with pay and they could avail of the loan which is not more than P30,000.
So aside from having their salary within this 6-month period, they would still avail of this P30,000 loan which is payable monthly during the service obligation.
Bautista said this service obligation is the number of years required of them to work or render services for the municipality of Binmaley. After they pass the board or bar examinations, they are not allowed to work outside unless they render this service obligation.
Under the ordinance, the grantee is required to comply with the stipulations in the memorandum of agreement (MOA), which will be entered into by the grantee and the mayor because the mayor will be tasked to enter into a MOA with the grantee.
He said that if the grantee fails to render the service obligation, like resigning then he or she would be required to refund the total amount or the cost of the studies.
"We will compute, of course, the salary he received during his six-months leave from office, plus if he availed of the P30,000 loan, he will refund that too to the municipal government," he said.
The education support program ordinance is aimed at improving the services of the employees of Binmaley.
"Definitely, the employees will have the expertise and the preparation because of acquiring this education. As I've said educational growth will mean effective and fast delivery of services," he said.
Bautista said the moment the grantee entered into a contract or agreement with the mayor by means of the MOA, he is bound to comply with the terms and conditions stipulated therein.
If he fails to render the required obligation of 3 years, which is required of him, then he will be compelled to refund or reimburse all the expenses he incurred during his study grant.
Bautista dismissed the possibility of playing favoritism in the implementation of the said ordinance saying that under the ordinance, they also provide for the creation of a committee to look into the proper implementation of this ordinance.
That includes the Human Resource Management who will verify the qualifications of the would-be grantee.
Bautista made the clarification that while the ordinance is for the municipal employees of Binmaley, this does not necessarily mean that it benefits only the rank and file employees of the municipality.
"Actually, those who stand to be benefited from this ordinance are the people of Binmaley because the employees, who have acquired the needed preparation for their assigned tasks, will be able to render fast delivery of basic services to the community," he said.
(August 20, 2003 issue)
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