As the nation gears up for the celebration of the 124th Philippine Independence Day on June 12, the Civil Service Commission (CSC) urged civil servants to be ‘future-ready’ and be prepared for new challenges that could affect public service delivery in the future.
The celebration, with the theme, “Pagsuong sa Hamon ng Panibagong Bukas” (Rise Towards the Challenge of a New Beginning), is a call for government workers to embrace change and adjust to new realities, especially as the country emerges out of the COVID-19 pandemic and onto the so-called “new normal”.
The CSC emphasizes that civil servants’ ability to be agile in the face of changes in the workplace is a crucial factor that can determine the quality and effectiveness of the government’s programs and services.
The Commission adds that in an effort to aid public servants, measures are currently adopted to achieve continuity in the delivery of public services amid any disruption – be it a pandemic, natural disaster, civil disturbance, or similar others – while ensuring the safety and welfare of our government workers.
Pursuant to National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) Memorandum No. 33 s. 2018, all government member agencies of the DRRM councils at all levels and other government departments, offices, bureaus, services, units, and instrumentalities are enjoined to develop their own Public Service Continuity Plan.
Aligned with the principle of continuity, the CSC promulgated Resolution No. 2200209 on 18 May 2022, which provides the guidelines for the adoption of flexible work arrangements in government offices.
The policy serves as a preventive measure to safeguard the health, safety, and welfare of government officials and employees while ensuring the government’s continued operations and efficient delivery of public services.
Government agencies are encouraged to adopt any or a combination of the flexible work arrangements identified in the guidelines in case of possible disruption of government operations due to the occurrence of a natural or man-made calamity.
To such end, the Commission urges heads of agencies to take the lead in introducing upskilling and retooling programs, adopting technology-based productivity tools, and establishing an occupational safety and health program to allow employees to better cope with future workplace challenges.
