The services of 275 veteran employees of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) will be terminated on March 15 for their failure, despite extensions, to comply with the educational requirements for their employment.
BuCor said the affected employes failed to comply with the provisions of Republic Act No. 10575, the BuCor Act of 2013.
“Under the provision of this act which provides for the professionalization and upgrading of qualification standards in the appointment of the Bucor personnel, they were given five years from the date of the effectivity of the law to obtain the minimum educational qualification and eligibility,” it said.
It pointed out that since the implementation of RA 10575, a total of 421 employees were listed for attrition.
Since the implementation of the law, the BuCor said a total of 421 personnel were listed for attrition.
It said that 41 employees availed themselves of early retirement while 105 of them successfully complied with the requirements of the law. Only 275 remained non-compliant, it also said.
Due to Covid-19 pandemic, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla extended for another one year the enforcement of the law.
BuCor Director General Gregorio Pio P. Catapang sent Remulla two letters on Oct. 30, 2023 and Feb. 24, 2024 and sought further extension of the deadline.
“Catapang who holds in high regard the long years of service and the immense contribution of these personnel to BuCor at the time they were hounded by issues and challenges could not help but conveyed to Remulla the employees call for compassion and even cited former BuCor Director General and now Senator Bato dela Rosa’s worries and eagerness to help the affected personnel,” BuCor said in a statement.
However, Remulla decline the extension as he pointed out that “the suspension of the attrition system cannot be further extended beyond the original non-extendible period of one year.”
“While the Department understands the difficulties suffered by the personnel during the Covid-19 pandemic, it is essential to strike a balance between the exigencies of the service and the need to uphold the statutory requirements provided under RA 10575,” Remulla said.
He explained that further extending the suspension may compromise the overall effectiveness of the attrition system and the commitment to maintain a qualified and competent workforce within the BuCor.