The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has urged agency heads to give priority to contract of service (COS) and job order (JO) workers when filling vacant government plantilla positions.
In a statement on Thursday, Aug. 15, Budget Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman said that 92 percent of the over two million plantilla positions in the national government are occupied, leaving eight percent still unfilled.
“Eight percent— that’s 168,719 positions unfilled pa. We encourage our department heads to absorb ‘yung mga JO and COS natin when they fill in these unfilled plantilla positions. I-prioritize natin sila,” Pangandaman said.
[Eight percent—that's 168,719 positions still unfilled. We encourage our department heads to absorb our JO and COS workers when filling these vacant plantilla positions. Let's prioritize them.]
Pangandaman cited the recent release of Joint Circular No. 2, series of 2024 by the Commission on Audit (COA) and the DBM that extended the transition period for the employment of COS and JO workers in the government.
According to the joint circular, departments/agencies are allowed to contract new COS/JO workers individually and renew the individual contracts of existing COS/JO workers until Dece.31, 2025.
This decision is in response to President Marcos' directive to prolong the transition period for the employment of COS and JO workers in the government. This directive specifically applies to those workers whose contracts are set to expire in December of this year.
“Bakit po kailangan ito? Para po hindi sila matanggal sa trabaho. And at the same time, madagdagan pa po ‘yung kanilang work and educational experience,” Pangandaman said.
[Why is this necessary? So they won’t lose their jobs. At the same time, it will also add to their work and educational experience.]
“So, with the extension of until Dec. 31, 2025, we are giving them a chance na mapalago pa ang kanilang experience and even their educational experience para makapasok sila doon sa mga bakante na position sa national government,” she added.
“Marami po ‘yan. Kung titignan niyo po, parang kulang, pero sa isang department po, marami po d’yan ang unfilled positions,” the budget chief further stated.
[With the extension until Dec. 31, 2025, we are giving them a chance to further develop their experience and even their educational background to qualify for the vacant positions in the national government. There are many. If you look closely, it may seem lacking, but in one department, there are actually many unfilled positions.]
President Marcos has previously directed government agencies to devise plans to help COS and JO employees qualify for permanent positions.
One of the strategies being contemplated is the implementation of initiatives, like review sessions, to assist COS and JO employees in passing the Civil Service Examination.
Furthermore, the skills and abilities of the COS and JO workers could be enhanced through retraining and educational programs, thereby enabling them to pass the Civil Service Examination.
COS refers to the engagement of an individual, private company, another government agency, non-governmental organization, or international organization as a consultant, learning service provider, or technical expert for a specific project or task within a specified period.
Meanwhile, JO refers to piece work (pakyaw) or intermittent or emergency jobs to be completed for a brief period and for a specific piece of work.