TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, March 4 (PIA)—Now that vaccination for 5-11 years old kids has been opened, parents or immediate family in government service who are accompanying their children for Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccination can be excused.
In its Advisory No. 139, dated March 3, 2022, the National COVID-19 Vaccination Operations Center provided the guidance to Regional and Local Vaccine Operations Center, implementing units and vaccine sites on the applicable Civil Service Commission directives on excuse absence benefits.
The guidance is also based on the CSC Directives on the Excuse / Absence Benefit under the Interim Guidelines on Absences of Government Officials and Employees Due to COVID-19 Vaccination and/or Adverse Events Following Immunization of COVID-19 Vaccine.
As to the NVOC, “pursuant to Section 21, Rule XVI of the Omnibus Rules on Leave, as amended, special leave privileges are available to parents in the government service who are accompanying their children for COVID-19 vaccination.”
NVOC cites Section of the CSC directive on special leave privileges.
It said, in addition to the vacation, sick, maternity and paternity leave, officials and employees with or without existing Collective Negotiation Agreement (CNA), except teachers and those covered by special leave laws, are granted the special leave privileges subject to conditions stated.
They are given leave privileges for parental obligations such as attendance in school programs, PTA meetings, graduations, first communion; medical needs, among others, where a child of the government employee is involved.
In fact, as to the directive, employees applying for special privilege leaves are no longer be required to present proof that they are entitled to avail of such leaves, the NVOC pointed out in its Advisory.
The leave privilege can be up to three days for a given year shall be strictly observed: an employee can avail of one special privilege leave for three days or a combination of any of the leaves for a maximum of three days in a given year, the CSC said.
These special leave privileges are non-cumulative and are strictly non-convertible to cash.
As to the advisory, by immediate family as defined, this refers to spouse, children, parents, unmarried brothers, and sisters or any relative living under the same roof or dependent upon the employee for support.”
The Advisory comes at the perfect time when the country races against time to expand its vaccination coverage to vulnerable sectors, as the upcoming elections could probably be another super-spreader event, should people continue to neglect and refuse the call to be protected. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)
