Family visit privilege RDC-7 supports draft admin order

CEBU, Philippines - The Central Visayas Regional Development Council has joined other regions in endorsing a draft administrative order to Malacañang proposing to grant third level government officials a privilege of family visit.

The RDC in Region XI endorsed a draft AO authorizing the grant of family visit privilege to third level officials, including other officers or equivalent rank but are not presidential appointees.

The RDC-XI is requesting support for the draft AO from other RDCs.

The Development Administration Committee of RDC-7 discussed the proposal and decided to recommend the endorsement of the draft AO to the Office of the President for approval.

RDC-V and Caraga Administrative Region XIII have also endorsed the proposal.

The draft AO aims to minimize the adverse effect to the family of the assignment of third level officials to other areas by granting family visit privilege of two working days every month.

The current practice is that government agencies may assign third level officials to official stations located in other areas that are far from their permanent residences. The practice separates them from their families.

The draft AO cited the National Decade Plan for the Filipino Family (2006-2015) which goal is to foster a family friendly environment, promotes strong family ties among its officials and employees to promote efficiency and to improve morale.

The draft AO authorizes only the grant of family visit privilege to third level officials by all government agencies (as defined by the Civil Service Commission).

This means that the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Foreign Service are not covered by said draft AO as they have separate laws on assignment of ranks.

The third level officials are those holding Career Executive Service positions or the managerial class in the group of career positions in the Philippine civil service.

These are the positions of Undersecretary, Assistant Secretary, Bureau Director, Bureau Assistant Director, Regional Director, Assistant Regional Director, Department Service Chief and other executive positions of equivalent rank as maybe identified by the Career Executive Service Board. – (FREEMAN)