Good separation package vowed for laid-off state workers

A package of retirement benefits awaits employees of 14 government agencies that would be abolished as part of Malacañang’s plan to streamline the bureaucracy.

However, Budget and Management Secretary Emilia Boncodin said the streamlining will not affect government employees who are reaching the retirement age of 65.

"They are only prejudiced because some of them spent the best of their lives in government and it is not giving them justice if we just abruptly remove them without giving them better opportunity for their remaining productive years," she said.

Boncodin said over radio yesterday Malacañang has endorsed to Congress the abolition of the 14 agencies so the government could save the money being allocated for their yearly operations.

"But we can assure, if ever this is implemented, those who will be affected is not going to be at prejudice of the person concerned," she said. "If ever, we are planning to provide a generous retirement benefit like those given to the (Integrated National Police) reorganization."

Boncodin said employees of the 14 agencies would not suffer the fate of the policemen who had to wait several years for their retirement benefits after the abolition of the Philippine Constabulary-Integrated National Police.

"Once we have this streamlining, the long wait of employees for their (retirement) benefits would no longer happen," she said.

Boncodin said the 14 agencies wound not be abolished "at least until after next year" and that they are still included in next year’s proposed national budget.

"These are still being studied so it’s not yet set (for implementation)," she said. "The truth is in (next year’s proposed) national budget that we are submitting to Congress (today), these agencies mentioned were still included."

The 14 agencies to be abolished are:

Bureau of Maintenance and Bureau of Equipment of the Department of Public Works and Highways, Office of Transport Cooperatives and Telecommunications Office of the Department of Transportation and Communications, National Printing Office of the Office of the Press Secretary, Commission on Overseas Filipinos of the Department of Foreign Affairs;

Commission on the Settlement of Land Problems of the Department of Justice, Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency under the National Economic Development Authority,

International Coffee Organization Certifying Agency, Bonded Export Marketing Board and Construction Manpower Development Foundation under the Department of Trade and Industry,

National Book Development Board under the Department of Education, and Cotton Development Administration and Agricultural Credit Policy Council under the Department of Agriculture. –Marichu Villanueva