Thursday, March 28, 2024

CSC Exec Favors Lowering Age Of Optional Retirement In Gov’t

CSC Exec Favors Lowering Age Of Optional Retirement In Gov’t

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Civil Service Commissioner Aileen Lizada is in favor of lowering the optional age of retirement for government workers.

During the Laging Handa public briefing aired over state-run PTV-4 on Friday, Lizada said part of her advocacy is for government employees to have a better retirement pay and be able to have the option for early retirement.

The current age for optional retirement is at 60 years old and the mandatory age of retirement is 65 years old.

Lizada said 99.9 percent of the government workers she has spoken with during her visit to various government agencies and local government units from Luzon to Mindanao, want to retire earlier than what is imposed by the law.

“We (the Philippines) have the highest optional age of retirement among Asean countries, which is 60 (years old) optional. We also have the highest mandatory age of retirement among Asean countries, which is 65 (years),” she said.

Lizada thanked the House of Representatives for approving on third and final reading a bill filed by Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Alfredo Garbin, lowering the optional retirement age for government workers from 60 years to 56 years.

“It is now up to the Senate, and I hope, with the words of the honorable Senate President, (if) this will push through, kasi marami na rin hong pagod (because many are already tired). Let us infuse new blood (in)to the system, let us give them the option,” she said. “Personally, here in my office, I am for the lowering of the age of optional retirement from 60 to 56.”

Gov’t online career fair

Meanwhile, the Civil Service Commission (CSC) is inviting all government agencies to participate in the government online career fair this September as part of the 120th anniversary of the Philippine Civil Service.

Lizada said this is the right time to give the people the chance to serve by working in government, especially at this time when many have lost their jobs and are on the lookout for new opportunities because of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) outbreak.

“Let us help. Marami hong nangangailangan ng trabaho ngayon. Ibigay natin sa kanila yung (Many need jobs. Let us give them the) opportunities to serve the government and likewise be financially empowered,” she said.

Lizada noted that the government should be the number one employer and the CSC serves as the central personnel employment agency.

Now that the government has initiated the “Balik Probinsya” Program, its beneficiaries may also avail of the career fair so they can start anew in the province.

“Let us fill your unfilled positions. May programa na po yung gobyernong Balik Probinsya, marami na tayong mga JO (job order employees), at yung ating mga casuals kasi hindi na nga sila nakakapasok sa gobyerno (The government has the Balik Probinsya Program, we already have so many JOs, and the casuals and many are unable to go to work) but let us open our unfilled positions,” she said.

So far, Lizada said, 11 government agencies have enrolled in the career fair – the Land Transportation Office 1 (Ilocos region), a local government unit in Northern Luzon, Landbank of the Philippines, Puerto Princesa City, Philippine Children’s Medical Center, Samar Provincial Hospital, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Monsanto High School (formerly Sta. Lucia High School), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) 4-B (Mimaropa), Department of Education Division City of Iligan, and Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Advance Science and Technology Institute.

To participate, government agencies may enroll from July 1 to August 14 while the career fair will be held from September 14 to September 18. (PNA)